After experiencing this class and reading Lee Sheldon's The Multiplayer Classroom I am now able to envision how incorporating the idea of "playing a class" is possible. Although I don't see it happening in a format like Second Life as this class was, I can see happening more as illustrated in The Multiplayer Classroom. In second grade it would be difficult to run everything as a game for several reasons. First of all, we don't use the typical letter grade grading system. Students are often given credit for effort as well as performance and the grades need to reflect this. This could be a little more difficult to manage using experience points. Also we teach all subject areas. There is not just one class or subject and the subjects often overlap and are integrated. However, I do believe it is very possible to set up different activities, practices, and learning opportunities that can be included in a gaming format to the class. I am very interested in utilizing 3D Game Lab or some other format that can be used to present quests in all different formats as well as distribute points and badges to the kids.
Designing my own game was a very valuable activity. It really made me think about what was appropriate for my students. I wanted the game to actually be a learning/teaching experience and not just a regurgitation of knowledge. By picking a fairly simple concept I think I was able to accomplish this. I would rather have used an existing video game that students already love and use it to teach a concept but was not able to do this. While my game was not actually an example of this kind of tangential learning, I do think it involves more thought than just an exhibit of knowledge. It involved a great deal of forethought and planning in order for the game to involve thought without allowing players to just plow through. I also was able to really see the problem solving skills necessary to build a game which made me want to even consider having students build their own games.
The game link and forms and worksheets are all located at:
tinyurl.com/sploderlinks
Direct Link to the game.
National Standard: ISTE NETs Teachers
Grade: Professional
Subject: Technology
Sub-Focus: None
Standard: ISTE 3: Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Details: Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers: a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation. c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats. d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.
