lauren's library blog

Using Academic Games to Promote Learning
Barbara J. Millis

Goals: experience active learning & games we can adapt
learn solid approaches for group work
reflect on value of games for teaching
enjoy interacting with colleagues
games for the day
scavenger hunt
snowball discussion
murder mystery
many other possible games in handout
atlas complex: where we as teachers assume the entire responsibility for the course
but you can share with students
Marc Prensky is guru of games
students learn by failure in games, but they keep coming back
we don’t use this model in class
games can teach valuable skills for real world/business
Questions to consider when planning preparing to use a teaching game
what is your purpose (they’ll want to know!)
what level of learning do you hope to achieve? (Jeopardy is pretty low down on Bloom’s taxonomy)
what game format will you use?
what resources are available
how will you determine appropriate subject matter
how will you prepare participant? (must do!)
what materials are needed?
how will you assess it?
Cooperative Learning
Understanding Cooperative Learning
What do we need to convert an in-class activity to an academic games?
activity
rules
prize
usually competitive (good idea to be competitive in teams or pairs)
You’ll want to monitor your groups to make sure things are happening as you expect
Deep Learning
key elements that foster a deep approach to learning
motivational context, active learning, interaction with others, SOMETHING ELSE

Using Academic Games to Promote Learning