U Learn 06 - Games & Education

ULearn 06 Workshop Computer Games in Education Trond Nilsen Richard Green Mick Grimley

Overview
10.30 – 10.50 - Introduction to Computer Games and Education
10.50 – 11.30 - Session 1 -Game genres and available tools for educators
11.30 – 11.45 Coffee Break
11.45 – 12.15 Hands-on with games
12.15 – 1.00 Session 2 – Game genres and available tools for educators continued
1.00 – 2.00 Lunch
2.00 – 3.15 Session 3 - Building a game world
3.15 – 3.30 Coffee Break
3.30 – 4.00 Session 4 – Building a game world 2
4.00 – 4.30 Final Discussion

Generation N or Net Generation
Gaming is a way of life
Last year video sales eclipsed the Hollywood box office gross

What is a Computer Game?
It is a computerised model that we can interact with
Games tend to be fun (not a chore)
The main thing a game does is to teach us how to play it (this learning keeps players hooked)
They tend to start of relatively simple and get more challenging (challenge:skill)

Games and Play
From a very early age we learn from games and play from simulations (Playing mother, playing Dr) to drill and practice (colours, numbers, shapes)
We are engaged, attentive, enthusiastic
But this is phased out in the early stages of education
We continue to play in our own time
There becomes a rift between work and play
Games, Play, Computer Games
dirty words in education and the classroom

Some Benefits of Digital Game Based Learning (DGBL)
Engagement/motivation/persistence
Active and interactive (constructivist)
Instant feedback
Encourage participation (safe environment)
Require the player to make decisions and to work towards a goal
Customized learning experiences to the individual
Usually involve a social network akin to an educational community of practice
Promote long term memory and learning transfer
Students expect digital (Net N)

Who?
Diverse learners
But all learners can reap the benefits

Issues
A distraction from learning
Teacher/Educationalists attitudes
Violence
Practicalities
Development of appropriate games
Curriculum content
Tools for teachers
Hardware
Gender differences
Competition
Duration of play

Educational Integration
Creating/building games
Integration of commercial games into the curriculum
Critiquing games
Immersive multi-player virtual environments

Some Interactive Learning Techniques used in DGBL
Practice and feedback
Drill style games, useful for learning facts
Learning by doing
Many games inc exploration, discovery, problem solving
Trial and error
players move forward until a mistake is made then start again
Goal-oriented learning
Related to how to do something and motivates learners to overcome failures
Discovery and guided discovery
Associated with adventure games and involve problem solving

Some Interactive Learning Techniques used in DGBL 2
Task based learning
Involves learners solving tasks or problems that build on each other and increase in difficulty
Question led learning
Usually connected with quiz games
Role playing
Promotes reflection as these types of games usually move a little slower
Coaching
Assistance is provided to help solve problems and move through the game

Some Interactive Learning Techniques used in DGBL 3
Intelligent tutoring
Specific feedback can be given based on student errors
Mastery learning
Games can be built which rely on a player reaching a certain competency level before being allowed to move on
Constructivist learning
Most games build on constructivist techniques

Assessment
Games were made to keep score
But beware of making them chores

U Learn 06 - Games & Education

by Trond Nilsen on Jun 03, 2008

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