An Afternoon of Play

A Workshop Introduction to Video Game Literacy
Katrin Becker
University of Calgary
June 2007
K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07

Notes on presentation accessible online and on the CD:

This presentation contains many links to other websites.
Try passing your mouse over the pictures – if the pointer
changes to a hand, it is an active link that you can
follow. Usually they will lead to the webpage that
was the source of the image.
Most underlined text is linked to other pages.
Also:
(+) = link to other page in this presentation
(-) = link to website or article containing further
information.
Note that there are many links to wikipedia entries.
Although wikipedia is not considered to be a sound
scholarly resource, it is often a great place to start,
and it can be very useful for providing straightforward and up-to-date explanations, especially of
newer technological terms.
Katamari Damacy
K.Becker Ed-Media’07

An Afternoon of Play

Bit of Wild Ride....

K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07

Image source: http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/mtwr.htm

Tutorial Plan: Part One 1:30-3:00
1:30 –
1:50
20 MIN

What are
games doing
now?

1.1 Prologue View: “PBS Video Game Revolution”

1:50 –
2:00
10 MIN

Introduction
and
Introductions

1.2 Presentation: What’s All The Buzz?

2:00 –
2:10
10

Case Study 1:
A Simple
Message

1.3 Presentation & Hands On: Why Use Games?

MIN

2:10 –
3:00
50 MIN

http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/
Excerpts from the 2005 PBS special will start at 1:30 sharp and play while people are getting
settled

Brief overview of the day’s tutorial, and (depending on audience size) introductions or a series of
questions to be answered collectively. [who are you; why are you here; what you hope to get out
of it; what is your experience with games;]

Hands on: play with September 12 Facilitator will ‘lead’ the play demo, followed by brief
discussion of how something like this might be useful.

http://www.newsgaming.com/games/index12.htm
Case Study 2:
Getting Fancy

1.4 What Can Games Do?
A Look at Several Games through game trailers, official websites, etc. In a few cases the games
will be demo’d live (like Oregon Trail). How many of the listed games are examined depends on the
audience and the available time.
Games & Official Websites

Trailers / Video clips

Other

Oregon Trail (version 3)
Stalin’s Dilemma
RealLives
Second Life
America’s Army
Nation States
Virtual U

Elder Scrolls IV:
Oblivion
Myst: Revelations
Eve Online
LOTRO
Spore
Civilization IV
Rollercoaster Tycoon

NMC Campus Second
Life
What Gamers Do
Child’s Play Charity
The Music of Halo
Games for Change
Wii

Workshop Outline Part 1
K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07

Katamari Damacy

Workshop Outline Part 2
Tutorial Plan: Part 2: 3:15-5:00 Hands-on
The purpose of the hands on section is to give participants an opportunity to play games in a supportive
environment. Participants will be asked to play together in groups so they can help each other and share
ideas. The number of sites and games experienced depends on the audience and the available time.
During this time questions about where and how video games could be used in the classroom are
discussed.
3:15 –
4:45
90
MIN

Welcome to
the Arcade
Hands On
Q&A
Discussion

[explore websites] WhyVille.com
World of Monkey Island
Hungry Red Planet
Civilization III Apolyton.net
DDR (Dance Dance Revolution)
[full game] Food Force
The Typing of the Dead
[web game]
[portable games - DS] Animal Crossing
New Super Mario Bros.
Phoenix Wright
Trauma Center
Electroplankton
Sims 2
Tetris
Mario Kart

4:45 –
5:00
15
MIN

Debriefing:
Where does
that leave
us?

K.Becker Why Games

Presentation Where to Find; How to Assess; Opportunities for further play
Teachers Evaluating Educational
Multimedia [UK] (TEEM)

Ed-Media ‘07

Games Parents Teachers
GameCritics
MobyGames

1.2
Introductions

K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07

1.3 Case Study 1
K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07

1.4 What Can Games Do?

Black & White
K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07

Ready, Set, GO!!

K.Becker Why Games

Ed-Media ‘07