Module2DigitalGameBasedLearning

=Videogames and Simulations in the Classroom= =Module 2: Digital Game-Based Learning= Dr. James Gee has been the leading researcher recently on identifying what people learn from games. Even if you didn't bring an actual game into the classroom, these learning principles are important to be mindful of as you design instruction. Your reading assignment for this modules starts off with Gee's article, Learning by Design: Good Video Games as Learning Machines, in which you'll learn 13 principles under the headings of "Empowered Learners," "Problem Solving," and "Understanding." In your activity for this module, you'll be exploring each of these principles in relation to a game you choose to play. The assignment to play is a tough one for many of us. We have been conditioned to think of "play" and "learn" as two different things. This activity is designed to give you learning structure (identifying Gee's 13 principles) while playing.

Essential Questions:
What learning components are inherent in games and simulations?

Reading Assignment:
Gee, James Paul. (2005). Learning by design: good video games as learning machines. //E-Learning, 2,// 5-16. Prensky, ch. 7-11, pp. 53-99

Journal Entry 2: In your online journal, add a forum for Gee's 13 Principles of Learning. Label a new discussion with each of the principles. Pick a game (or more than one game). Play. I'm serious. Play the game. As you're playing the game, make notes in your journal regarding each of the principles you encounter as you play. Finally, summarize your thoughts on what you've read and experienced in this module. Take time to read and comment on your classmates' journals. As a bonus, you may want to discuss how these principles of learning could be brought into your classroom even without physically bringing in a video game or simulation.
 * Making an Avatar: One aspect of games and simulations is taking on the role of someone else. Avatars are something second nature to Digital Natives but rather foreign to Digital Immigrants. Your assignment is to create an avatar (digital representation of yourself) and post it in your journal. Here is a link to 27 different avatar creation tools: http://mashable.com/2007/09/12/avatars/ Pick one and have some fun! || [[image:mygaia_avatar.jpg]] ||


 * = Module 1: Introduction ||= Module 2: Digital Game-Based Learning ||= Module 3: Let's Play! ||= Module 4: Anchoring Games to Standards ||= Module 5: Designing Instruction and Assessing Learning ||