Theory and Challenges of Pedagogical Games May 8 2012 Elizabeth Pyatt gamingpsuedu Who Am I Elizabeth Pyatt Instructional Designer Penn State since 2000 Solitaire addict just brought Wii ID: 803156
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Educational Gaming for Free Spirited SkepticsTheory and Challenges of Pedagogical Games
May 8, 2012Elizabeth Pyatt gaming@psu.edu
Slide2Who Am I?Elizabeth PyattInstructional Designer
Penn State since 2000Solitaire addict, just brought WiiMinesweeper, Puzzles, PacMan, Space Invaders, Missile Command, JeopardyEducational Gaming Commons
http://gaming.psu.edu
Slide3OutlineWhat’s a Game?Does there have to be a winner?
Potential for LearningPBL, motivation/affect, teams…Skeptics CornerLeading to “What to Avoid”First Steps
Slide4But first a contestHow many games will I mention?Need names plus count
There are some prizes on the line.Audience will determine accuracy of list
Slide5What’s a Game?Favorite games (any genre)What do they have in common?
Slide6Official CharacteristicsSet of rules/restrictions
Semi-arbitrary (e.g. no hands on the ball)Context is “Not Real”Scoring MethodCompetition (& a “Winner”?)Many expect there to be
Sometimes you beat the
computer…
or yourself
Successful games are “fun”
Slide7Parameters?There’s some candy on the line…
Slide8Interesting ParametersElectronic vs. Non-Electronic
Team vs. IndividualWhat Skills are Being Practiced?Math, Word, Strategy, Dancing, MusicMeditation, Building, Flying, Farming, SalesTime investmentCasual (short & sweet)
Non-casual (lots of investment, high reward)
±
Background Narrative
Games vs. Puzzles vs. Toys
How many outcomes?
Slide9Educational PossibilitiesGames invoke a variety of pedagogical principles such as…
Slide10Team Playing
Slide11Group LearningWorld of
WarcraftDiscuss strategy, plan missionsMake tradesCompile noteshttp://www.wowwiki.com
/
Practice English grammar
Econ in Outer Space
A game in which students build a modern economy from scratch post spacecraft wreck
ECON 201, UNC Greensboro
Slide12Role Play
Slide13EmpathyWhat’s it like to be another person?
“Warrior” is a common role BUTBusiness AdministratorSims & ECON 102 Sims (Campus)Bucket of Beans (S. Pacific Reciprocity)Players learn the value of “cashing in” favors
StarPower
Establish an arbitrary upper class via trades
This class can establish new rules
BEWARE
http://www.stsintl.com/schools-charities/
star_power.html
Slide14Quests and Missions
Slide15Pot Assembly Required
Slide16PBL/Challenge Based LearningGames are often won by solving problems
AKA “Quests” or “Missions”Educational QuestsBeer Distribution Game (used in Smeal)Oregon Trail
Rare educational game that was a
commercial success
Slide17Simulation Game GenresGod Game
Game in which players control parameter of universe (e.g. Sim Games)History SimsAge of Empires
Trial of Lizzie Borden (U Mass)
Science Simulations
Flight Simulator, Spore
Slide18SimHealth
Played as part of HPA 101
Slide19Leveling Up
Pac Man Maze levels
Pac Man 5D which presents a variable 3D grid. Invented by a Russian gamer.
Slide20Mastery LearningAchieve Minimal Score before moving to next Lesson
AKA complete level 1 before level 2ScaffoldingEach level introduces new elementAdding a touch of difficulty adds interest
Too little is boring
Too much causes gamers to
quit
Zone of Proximal
Development
Unlocking in Games
Leveling up unlocks new tools (reward)
New equation? New diagram?
Slide21Shoot To Kill
Slide22“Drill and Kill”Games encourage practice
And automaticity of skillsSuch as pattern recognitionBut with fun graphics & music
Slide23See alsoMath drillsMore fun with tiny angry scientists?
Algebra Meltdown (http://www.mangahigh.com/en_us/games)Vocabulary and spellingMore fun as Hangman, crossword?
Identification
…
Slide24Affect/MotivationGames can add motivation toChores (Chore Wars – competitive chore points)
Jogging (Nike Plus) – badges, leaderboardSelf-Improvement (SuperBetter)
Slide25Skeptics CornerGames “better than reality”Aren’t we supposed to be helping students deal with reality?
YES…howeverGamers often good at tackling real world challenges and learn real world skillsReflection can help them see how…
Slide26Just Games?What aboutActive Star Trek fan communities…
Or Dorothy Dunnett readersKnitters, needlepointers, metal workers
Toastmasters
“Stovetop” league? Monday Morning quarterback?
…
Slide27“Gaming the System”AKA CheatingGames
Cheat codes, destroying weaker opponentsSome socially OK, others notIn SchoolAcademic DishonestyBECAUSE…
Slide28When games are high stakes…
Survive
annihilation
. Win free nail polish for life?
Slide29Can we still have fun?Low Stakes
vs High StakesGames (low stakes) + reflection (higher)Students do enjoyChange from lecture/quiz
Leader Boards (when low stakes)
Games if logistics not too burdensome
A certain level of goofiness or joie de vivre
Game may teach crucial skill
So maybe we do require it anyway
Slide30Can we make Failure an Option?
Games teach via mistakesBecause they allow resetsGamers comfortable experimentingCan we use more “maximum scores”?Can we give hints
Maybe with minor points deductions
Slide31Thinking Game GoalsGames can allow for:Strategic/Systems thinking
Experience as a different personAdd motivationPractice of low level skills/knowledgeGames don’tConvey content (except in the “narrative”)
Slide32Oregon TrailGoal: Teach about life on the Oregon Trail
Life on the Oregon Trail is very hazardous, requires careful planning, and crosses a variety of terrain
Slide33Quick StartsCasual Games
Hangman/Peril/Typohttp://gaming.psu.eduPowerPoint TemplatesANGEL games (crossword/match)
Gamification
Badges? Quests
? Avatars?
Case
Studies (gussied up)
?
Many avatar/graphics tools
Slide34Fun PlayFind the challenge “sweet spot”Not too easy or too difficult
Challenging gun for faculty ≠ fun for studentsAllow for goofinessGraphics, sound effects, punsAllow for some “low stakery”
Can activities be replayed?
Slide35What do you mean “goofy”?Many use great cartoons but do we
Show warriors fleeing the scene after a mistranslation?Simulate explosions in engineering?Turn ourselves into an avatar?Turn homework into “quests” or “missions?Add game graphics to assignments?
Allow students to earn points towards late assignment submissions
?
Unlock “power” equations? Tools?
Slide36Explaining Functions w/SubsUsing cash register buttons as metaphors for algebraic functions in Math 21
Starring Deb
Mirdamadi
, Mont Alto Campus
Slide37Failing can be Funny
Slide38Today we learnedGames can be good learning
environmentsProblem solving, skills practice, collaborationGames have many facetsGames in school ≠ games in the wildBut hopefully can be fun & educational
Gaming does require a mental readjustment for instructors
But there are many paths to victory
Slide39Who Am I?Pragmatrix
Super PowersMaster of Learning Objective CongruenceAssessor of Pedagogical GamesExplorer of New TechnologiesQueen of “Keeping it Real”
Slide40Some ReferencesMcGonigal, Jane
Reality is Broken: Why Games Make us Better.James Paul GeeWhat Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and LiteracyKoster, RalphA Theory of Fun
Bartle, Richard (player types)
Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players who Suit MUDs
Slide41Contest ResultsHow many games did I mention?Must provide names