Game based learning or educational games? I am often asked by teachers which game they should buy for their own kids or their classroom. I thought that I’d start this rebooted blog by discussing the differences between buying an educational game and creating a game based learning culture in the classroom. Game based learning is a complex topic because every book and now every website about game based learning and gamification offer differing definitions of games and often in domains other than learning.
Game scholars tend to focus on games as a phenomenon, offering theories and criticisms, whereas instructional designers tend to produce games that more resemble interactive quizzes. Something seems to get lost in translation. Games appear to demonstrate many learning principles, though no one really agrees which are more essential than others. “people who don’t play games often don’t get games. Then there also ideas that become lost in time, especially those hidden in old letterpress books. Related Articles. RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms.
Article about Adaptive Learning. OECD research into the relationship between technology and today's learners. Crtique of Costructivist, problem-based learning. Constructivism and its implications. Active and Online Learning. Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. The Nature of Learning. A MUST read for theory. How To Engage With Active Learners In The Classroom. Students are currently enjoying the last gasps of summertime in most countries right now. They’re outside, engaging in social activities, and constantly on the move. So what would happen if these students were thrown into a slow-moving and old-fashioned classroom? The students would get distracted, disconnected, and feel lost. Luckily, most classrooms are aggressively pursuing a relatively new type of approach to keep students engaged.
To get you a bit more excited about engaging active learners, Blackboard and JESS3 created a new video that I thought would be helpful to share. Whether it’s through the use of technology (iPads, IWBs) or trends (flipped classrooms, 1:1), the key is to just focus on what’s resonating with students. So be sure to check out this video (which is basically a video infographic and chock-full of interesting tips and factoids) and get inspired to engage your students in a whole new way.