Reply to Ebony Lovingood's post: I really like the three questions Ebony :) -
As I study each section I find myself more curious about popular games such as fortnight and World of Warcraft. Games that also facility team play have also peak my interest. I'd like to investigate the feasibility of using these games for instruction. However, Minecraft education fits the requirements for implementation into a high school classroom.
I've learned the correct questions to pose before designing or allowing my students to participate.
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I learned that games motivate learners based on Flow theory, which concerns managing challenge, control, performance criteria and feedback. There are six elements that can be manipulated to achieve this, includiing world design, system design, content design, game writing, level design, and user interface design. The more immersive a game, the more likely it is to engage learners. There are free and low cost applications available to create games and immersive worlds. Collaborative games must have controls in place to ensure teams members participate equally or according to their roles or skills.
In order for all of the students to learn, the game must be cooperative as well as non-repetitive. The students must work together and the game should be different every time so the students will not get bored with it.
You should put as much effort and scaffolding in to he games you create or select, as you would a traditional classroom lesson or group lesson.
I learned that people need motivation and ability to continue with a game; therefore, a game should be designed to address both in order to optimize what a student learns.
I learned there are many free resources to create educational games for the classroom including Sploder and Kahoot.
Generally discussion is without peer pressure and working together
Cooperative learning are learners working together to maximize their own and each other’s learning. It is best if the students are engaged in the game to learn.
Games are only beneficial if they complete what they set out to do. Games must be well thought out and designed properly in order to keep students engaged. Students become very frustrated when there is no flow.
Before I design a game, I will ask the following questions to make the course more direct for learning:
- What is your main reason for gamifying your course?
- What are your goals?
- What are the main benefits you expect to achieve?
