Game based learning

“Games are an extraordinary way to tap into your most heroic qualities.” - Jane McGonigal, Author of Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World
If you like these ideas, take one of my courses or check out my books. Ask me about training your teachers, [email protected]!
People enjoy playing video games. People worldwide spend about 3 billion hours a week playing them (McGonigal, 2011). When we play video games we learn, build, collaborate, problem-solve, explore, discover, and achieve goals. We also are deemed heroes or champions for investing so much time playing. What if learning were more like playing a video game? Paul Maglione, in his presentation, Unlocking Learner Motivation in the Age of the Digital Native, highlights ways games motivate and engage students:
  • Social- Now video games tend to have social forums or virtual worlds where players interact, allow collaborative playing, and allow players to talk to each other with headsets.
  • Engaging worlds- It’s a representation of the world individuals want to be immersed in with visuals, multimedia, popular music, graphics and more
  • Goal-oriented- Aim to reach the next level; each level is more challenging, but achievable.
  • Learning surrounds us- characters must collect items that help with the journey and must search for these all around them
  • Positive stress- learning is difficult but most learners are willing to invest several hours to complete tasks when they can reach an outcome they want
  • Teaches us to deal with failure- learners keep trying at a level till they achieve it. They aren’t punished for failing, but are allowed to try again with no penalty.
Not only can students learn with games, they can design their own! Try Hopscotch, TinyTap (iOS/Android), Scratch MIT, Zondle, GetKahoot, Stencyl, SketchNation, GameSalad, Purpose Games, ClassTools, Game Maker Studio, Sploder, Gamestar Mechanic, X-Note, What2Learn, Kodu, GamePress, Adventure Games Studio, and Quest Text-based Adventures. 
Game Based Learning SK12 by Kelly Duncan
  • Design walkthroughs, HackingDLS.com
  • Bigfishgames.com/blog/game-walkthroughs
  • Pearltrees.com/shellyterrell/game-rubrics/id13244405
  • Teachingenglish.org.uk/article/computer-gamin
  • Learning Game Websites
  • Brainpop.com/games
  • Brainpop.com/games/game-finde
  • ABCYA.com
  • Kindersite.org/Directory/DirectoryFrame.htm
  • Learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org
  • Sheppardsoftware.com
  • Pumkin.com
  • English-attack.com Quizlet.com
  • Pearltrees.com/shellyterrell/game-based-lesson-plans/id13244420 6kuLfV
  • Teachingenglish.org.uk/article/computer-gaming 6kuLfV
  • Teachingenglish.org.uk/article/computer-gaming 6kuLfV
  • Shellyterrell.com/games Zondle Scratch MIT TinyTapGetKathoot Stencyl SketchNation GameSalad Purpose Games ClassTools Game Maker 3D Sploder Gamestar Mechanic What2Learn Kodu Adventure Game Studio Textbased Adventures UK Unreal Engine Unity 3D YoYo Games Gamefroot Tynker Hopscotch Code Avengers Flowlab Create games!
  • TinyTap.iT iOS & Android! Create games, quizzes & presentations
  • Scratched.media.mit.edu/resources/rubric-assessing-scratch-projects-draft-0
  • Make it collaborative! Build worlds together Play group games Create a game together ShellyTerrell.com/games
  • Spaceteamesl.ca iOS & Android
  • Photo by Kelly Hunter, Flic.kr/p/ai2U2fShellyTerrell.com/games More Game Resources
  • Englishstorytime.pbworks.com/Archives
  • Eltsandbox.weebly.com @DaveDodgson
  • Education.minecraft.net

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