Teaching with Games, Once Removed Katrin Becker © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 1 Overview "How might teacher education live well in a changing world?" • What is DGBL? • Course Structure • What they learned. • What I learned. • The Projects. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 2 My Background • • • • © 2006 K.Becker 23 yrs higher ed (teaching - tech) 18 years hatching program (teacher support) PhD candidate 3 kids DGBL Once Removed 3 "How might teacher education live well in a changing world?" • More choices than ever before (for learners) • Be adaptable • Ideal vs. reality © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 4 What should teacher education look like in this world? • “Technology” is a given, not an option. [more demanding than books] • Allow time for practice. "Appropriate practice is the single most neglected aspect of effective instruction." (Merrill) – applies to teachers as much as students. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 5 What kind of teacher should faculties of education be striving to nurture? • Life-long learners. • Tech-savvy vs. tech-phobic (appropriate technology) • Culturally aware (incl. pop-culture) © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 6 What is DGBL? • Digital Game Based Learning • Serious Games • The use of game technology to enhance/ support/ augment (and yes, sometimes provide) education and learning. • COTS & Custom Games & Sims • Some examples….. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 7 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 8 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 9 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 10 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 11 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 12 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 13 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 14 As Ecco, you are the only dolphin which managed to escape from the giant whirlpool who sucked down its entire pod. The five shining stars on your front show you are the chosen one to save them. But that task will be not be an easy one, as you will have to travel time and space with the Atlantean time machine, and meet the mystical Asterite in order to defeat the vortex queen. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 15 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 16 Course Structure • Seminar, readings, discussion, examples, projects • Themes: – The Current State of Games and Gamers; – Current state in Media Studies and Games Theory (including a discussion of violence in games); – Is Learning Fun? (Games and Pedagogy); – What Can Games Do? – How important are fidelity and validity? – Instructional Design for Games; – Making Games, and Resources for making games; – Assessing Games for Learning. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 17 What they learned Don’t need to be a gamer. Games are technology. Media is not neutral. Media backlash is not new. Game-based learning is here. Game savvy is cachet. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 18 What I learned. • Interest is high. • Teachers are willing. • Resources are rare (equipment & information). • Technology integration still lags. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 19 The Projects. • MunchLand • How to Get To Carnegie Hall • FIFA Soccer • Civ III • Food Force © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 20 unch and What is MunchLand? It is a fun way for elementary aged kids to learn about nutrition and exercise. In MunchLand Russ, Pat, and Bobby search through a house looking for food, but not just any food. They need to find the food that will fulfill the recommended food requirements in the Canada Food Guidelines. © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 21 How to Get To Carnegie Hall • You may choose your own adventure, as you make decisions which affect your career as a musician. • Your goal is to appear at Carnegie Hall © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 22 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 23 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 24 © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 25 Questions? © 2006 K.Becker DGBL Once Removed 26