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- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2006
- Description
- This presentation is intended to fulfill two goals: 1. To show that many commercial games, the successful ones at least, already implement sound pedagogy when it comes to how they get players to learn the game and how they facilitate gameplay. 2. To encourage critical examination of successful video games, to learn how this has been done, so that we may use that information to build engaging educational games.
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2015
- Description
- Videogames are interactive by nature - people proceed in games by doing things, and this experiential quality lies at the very core of game design. Without interaction, it isn’t a game. Videogames are popular precisely because of the experience - games designed for learning can do no less. However, to be feasible for use in formal educational settings, they must do more, and while we are making progress studying games in classrooms, there remain few structured approaches to analysing games that do not include classroom testing. This paper outlines the author’s Four Pillars of Game-Based Learning (4PEG) which can be used to perform a structured analysis of both COTS and serious games to...
- Type
- article
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2005
- Description
- 1. Explain Online Games. 2. Explain why they should not be ignored. 3. Look at some related communities. 4. Look at what happens in and around games.
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker; J. R. Parker
- Date issued
- 2005
- Description
- The quest for interesting, engaging, yet doable programming assignments is an ongoing one. Authentic, realistic examples have often been drawn from business, and games have often been overlooked as being too narrow in scope. This paper explains why computer games, especially classic arcade games are ideal vehicles for learning to program.
- Type
- conference publication
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2005
- Description
- Have you ever watched a child or teenager playing a videogame they really liked? Do you wonder what it is about this game that has them so completely engrossed? Part of the answer is that games are motivating, rewarding, engaging, and challenging, all at the same time. The kids will probably just tell you they’re fun. But when you think about it, fun and engagement are synonymous, and engagement is something we all want for our learners. Games also show us that challenge sells – when was the last time you heard that a game was popular because it was easy? Does a game loose its appeal once it has been won? Rarely. The game looses its appeal when players have learned all they can from it....
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- J. R. Parker; Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2006
- Description
- Games are thought of as a waster of vast amounts of time for students. Homework does not always get done. Why not make the game the homework?
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker; Melissa Beacham
- Date issued
- 2000
- Description
- In order to design and write effective, robust code using advanced data structures, it is crucial to achieve a thorough understanding of the algorithms used to manipulate these structures. One means of accomplishing the task is to provide students with a graphical, animated system that allows users to observe changes that the structure undergoes while it is being used. One such system has been developed which demonstrates B-Trees. Some preliminary testing is complete and some initial reactions of the students who have tried the system are outlined.
- Type
- conference publication
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2000
- Description
- Most courses taught in Computer Science still use the traditional lecture plus lab format, usually with one or more required texts as reference. While many instructors now also use the web to augment this, many if not most use it simply as a convenient place to put materials they would normally hand out on paper in class. Some keep all their lecture notes and slides on their laptops or on the web and then display them during class as the basis for their lectures. Students do find it useful to have access to lecture notes and many appreciate being able to print out lecture notes before a class so they can follow along during lectures. Since access to computers and skill in their use is...
- Type
- offprint
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2001
- Description
- The value of games as a vehicle for teaching concepts while inspiring students is now well accepted at almost all levels of education. Video games, arcade and computer games are rarely given the same kind of attention. This paper will describe the value of computer games as a motivator and some of the benefits that can be realized by using known computer games as programming applications, even in the first year of a CS program. The use of two such games as assignments in CS1 and CS2 is outlined and some feedback on the experience is offered.
- Type
- article
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- J. R. Parker; Katrin Becker; K. D. Loose
- Date issued
- 2007
- Description
- In the past 3-4 years there has been a significant interest in computer games in University and college curricula, as a way to teach early computer science, to attract more students into the program, and to teach advanced concepts and lend vocational weight to a curriculum. In this article we discuss many ways that games can contribute to an undergraduate CS program, and illustrates specific ways that the use of games has influenced the students, the faculty, and the institution. Our claims are supported by numbers based on actual observation and study. We also show how the inclusion of games can add to research aspects and the reputation of a computer science department.
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker; J. R. Parker
- Date issued
- 2007
- Description
- There has been significant recent interest in computer games in University and College curricula as a way to teach early computer science, to attract more students into the program, to teach advanced concepts, and to help lend vocational weight to a curriculum. In this article we discuss several ways that games can contribute to an undergraduate CS program, and illustrate specific ways that the use of games has influenced learning, the students, the faculty, and the institution where these courses have been implemented.
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2008
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2014
- Description
- Many people struggle with the fundamental concepts underlying Mendelian genetics. As soon as we involve more than two traits things get complicated. The classic examples are fine, but additional resources can be helpful. Besides, playing with blood isn't all it's cracked up to be, and rabbits are cuter. Here's a visual way to learn the jargon and the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance while playing a fast-paced card game using rabbit coat color genetics. Coat color in rabbits demonstrates dominance/recessive traits, differences in pheno- vs genotypes, epistatis, and multiple alleles - all of which blend together to form the color we see. Gene Rummy is a variation of Gin Rummy....
- Type
- article
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Suzanne Freyjadis; Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2015
- Description
- In recent years, the video game industry has been embroiled in in various issues of gender bias and minority representation, both in the games that are published and among those who work in the industry. The GamerGate controversy, which exploded on social networks in August 2014, was ostensibly about nepotism and a lack of reporting integrity in videogame journalism but very quickly descended into unprecedented harassment and threats that primarily targeted women in the game industry. This is an extreme example of the issues faced by many women and minorities in the STEM professions, and the barriers that these situations create. How does game education plan to dig itself out of the...
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2015
- Description
- In his landmark paper describing what the new post-industrial paradigm of instruction should look like, C.M.Reigeluth outlines 8 core ideas: 1. Learning-focused vs. sorting focused. 2. Learner-centered vs. teacher-centered instruction. 3. Learning by doing vs. teacher presenting. 4. Attainment-based vs. time-based progress. 5. Customized vs. standardized instruction. 6. Criterion-referenced vs. norm-referenced testing. 7. Collaborative vs. individual. 8. Enjoyable vs. unpleasant. (Reigeluth, 2012) Most of us can agree that people learn at different rates and have different learning needs, but most of our courses continue to enforce a lock-step progression of topics and assignments that is...
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Dana Ruggiero; Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2014
- Description
- Just what do we learn from playing serious games? Especially common in games for learning is the notion that participants need to be able to win the game, but is it always necessary for the player to win in order to ‘get’ our message? In his studies of productive failure, Kapur (2008) has suggested that failure can be important to learning. Indeed, when we think back on our most memorable learning experiences we often find that these lessons are things learned through failure rather than success. Learning through failure is an effective way to help people learn how to cope with situations where there is no clear solution (Dorner, et al., 1990), and for certain kinds of messages negative...
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Health, Community and Education
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2014
- Description
- Videogames are interactive by nature - people proceed in games by doing things, and this experiential quality lies at the very core of game design. Without interaction, it isn’t a game. Videogames are popular precisely because of the experience - games designed for learning can do no less. However, to be feasible for use in formal educational settings, they must do more, and while we are making progress studying games in classrooms, there remain few structured approaches to analysing games that do not include classroom testing. This presentation will outline the author’s Four Pillars of Game-Based Learning and show using examples how they can be used to perform a structured analysis of...
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Health, Community and Education
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2014
- Description
- In a recent online presentation Charles M. Reigeluth, he said that the future of Ed Tech would require a change of paradigm of pedagogy. Gamification is one such new pedagogy that can be implemented without the need for institutional systemic change. ‘Gamification’ is the use of game elements in non-game contexts and since the term’s first appearance in 2006, it has become a trending topic on many education forums. This presentation reports on the gamification of 2 university courses: one a grad-level education course and the other a freshman computer course. While many aspects of gamification are *not* new, some are, and when taken together create a pedagogy that could be one of...
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Health, Community and Education
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker; J. R. Parker
- Date issued
- 2008
- Description
- Before researchers can perform studies using commercial games, they must choose which game or games to study. The manner in which that choice is made and justified is the focus of this paper.
- Type
- book chapter
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology
- Contributor(s)
- Katrin Becker
- Date issued
- 2007
- Description
- Not sure if games are good or bad for us? Not sure how much of what you hear is hype and how much is real? Want to know what it is that has your students so pre-occupied? For many of today’s generation, digital games are replacing television as leisure activity and hype about games for learning in school settings is once again increasing. Digital games have become at least as much a part of our culture as television was to previous generations and so, it behoves us to become familiar with the medium, but where can a novice go to get some experience? Games are no longer trivial so how are we to know where to start?
- Type
- presentations (communicative events)
- Appears in collection(s)
- Science and Technology