Webinar: Using Educational Games & Gamification

Motivation, clear objectives, critical thinking about consequences, and instant and abundant feedback are all elements of the best learning experiences. These are also elements of the best games. There is momentum behind games in education, including a large number of teachers who are using games like Minecraft and Civilizaton or gamifying their classroom to teach core concepts and develop 21st century skills.

Visit http://bit.ly/13ZoI60 to access the recording of the May 20 webinar.

Some important issues to mention:

• games: games are fun and include story, character, goal, obstacules, feedback, levels.

• game mechanics vs learning principles.

• multiple intelligences.

• flow theory.

• video with interventions from James Gee and Clark Aldrich, among others.

• types of games: simple games, simulated environments and adventure worlds (benefits, limitations of each).

• gamification as the concept of applying game-design thinking to non-game applications to make them more fun and engaging.

An interesting quote:

The worst thing kids can say about a homework is that it's too hard. The worst thing they can say about a game is that it's too easy (Dr. Henry Jenkins).

In short, the presentation is interesting but adds nothing really new.