Play to Learn, Learn to Play! How and Why Game-Based Learning Works Description: This workshop will address the ins and outs of game-based learning, including: the characteristics of effective games, the features of games that make them useful learning tools and the best ways to use games in your classroom. Attendees will learn how games cater to active learning experiences; how they safely encourage experimentation, trial and error, and independent learning; how they contribute to personalized learning; and how to use games to increase engagement for students. The workshop will include hands-on gameplay, walkthroughs of games and a breakdown of learning game design. Also included will be a discussion of places to find quality games and strategies to evaluate the best games for your curriculum. The goal of the workshop is to educate participants on important features of game-based learning to make it easier to find, evaluate and utilize games in your teaching.

1. Play to Learn, Learn to Play!
How and Why Game-Based Learning
Works

3. What is Game-Based Learning?
• Digital products that balance educational content with the
fun, interactive aspect of games
PLAY LEARN

4. What is Game-Based Learning?
• Digital products that balance educational content with the
fun, interactive aspect of games
• Feature defined learning outcomes
• Meaningful learning experiences
• Measureable outcomes

5. Key Features of Game-Based
Learning?
• Defined learning outcomes, meaningful learning experiences
• Provide context and real-world value of skills and content
• Encourage deeper learning, integration of knowledge bases and skill sets
• Seamless accountability, feedback, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators built-in
• Combine graphics, audio and movement into an interactive and immersive
experience

6. Characteristics of Good Games
Aligned to educational
standards
Cross Curricular
Skills Based
Purpose Aligned
Opportunities to
explore
Stimulating
Age
Appropriate
FUN!

7. Does Game-Based Learning Work?
Teachers find games effective in improving:
• Executive function skills
• 21st century skills
• Technology skills
• Literacy and Math skills
Source: Level up learning: A national survey on teaching with digital games, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop

8. Does game-based learning work?
TEACHERS REPORT
• Improved student mastery of curricular content
• Improved student mastery of extra-curricular skills
• Increase in sustained attention to tasks
• Increased motivation to learn
Source: Level up learning: A national survey on teaching with digital games, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop

9. Does game-based learning work?
STUDIES SHOW:
• Increase in positive collaboration
• Decrease in conflict
• Improved social skills
• Improved classroom behavior
Source: http://www.gamesandlearning.org/2014/08/11/research-competitive-games-can-drive-student-engagement/
Source: http://dailyedventures.com/index.php/2014/06/10/rick-brennan/

10. Game Based Learning works:
Effort and persistence
No penalty for failure
Competitive, Motivating
Accountability and Feedback

11. Game Based Learning works:
Cross-curricular thinking
Context
Engaging all learners
Higher-level thinking

12. Game Based Learning works:
Engage all learners
Progress tracking
Safe experimentation
Personalized learning

13. Casual
• Short, fun,
extra-
curricular
Reinforceme
nt
• Practice
already-learned
skills
Teaching
• Immersive,
curriculum
aligned
What kinds of games are out there?

14. • Interactive, immersive
• Success requires complex system learning, higher thinking
skills
• Competitive: studies show that the built-in competitive aspect
of digital gaming has measurable benefits for student
performance
• Instant feedback, opportunity to modify answers, which leads
to student ownership of learning
Keys to Success

15. • Progressive learning requires player to master topic before
moving forward
• Emphasis on persistence and effort
• Gameplay encourages deeper learning
• Content encourages integration of knowledge bases and skill
sets
Keys to Success

16. Casual
• Short, fun,
extra-
curricular
Reinforceme
nt
• Practice
already-learned
skills
Teaching
• Immersive,
curriculum
aligned
Types of Games

17. • As a break or reward
• In centers
• For skills practice
• During independent study time
• As homework
• After school
Use Casual and Reinforcement
Games

18. – Have students identify similarities and differences between the Maya Number System
and our Hindu-Arabic Number System
– Have students create their own Maya Number System math problems for their
classmates to solve
– Have students create a 3 Digits type game using a different number system (e.g.
Roman Numerals)
– Have students research other number systems to identify similarities and differences
between them
– Use loot archive as basis for further student work on Maya history
Game Integration Ideas

19. – Large-scale, immersive experiences that teach new content
– Designed to be part of the curriculum rather than
supplementing it
– Have complex story lines divided into multiple levels, built-in
assessments and seamless motivators such as achievements
and level-ending puzzles.
– Can be used as a stand-alone lesson without extra scaffolding
or as part of a larger unit with minimal scaffolding
Long-Form Games

20. • Unit study
• Extended project time
• Teacher-led lessons
• Group work
• Knowledge gain
• Tailored learning
Use Long Form Games

22. • Expand on value of in-game assessments and achievements
through additional external motivations (e.g. challenge to complete
puzzle in fastest time; extra credit for completing X achievement)
• Expand learning by using game as research tool: assign specific
puzzles or part of game and have students explain to others what
they learned
• Have students write report on in-game topics (e.g. Maya
government, Maya Calendar)
• Make connection to current events (e.g. Maya environmental
interaction and drought in CA)
Game Integration Ideas

23. Characteristics of Quality Games
Aligned to educational
standards
Cross Curricular
Skills Based
Purpose Aligned
Opportunities to
explore
Stimulating
Age
Appropriate
FUN!

24. Where can I find games?

25. For more information, visit
www.dig-itgames.com
E-mail us at: info@dig-itgames.com
@DigItGames
• www.Facebook.com/DigItGames