Topic outline

• General
  

  General

  The Game is On

  • In this mini-course, we'll explore games and their effects on the classroom experiences for both teacher and learners.
    

    For questions, please contact me, Olga LaPlante, olga.laplante@gmail.com or call me at 207-807-8914.

  • Course summary Page
  • Syllabus Page
  • News forum
  • The Glossary below is a great resource for defining terms and notions you might find difficult or simply new, and is also where you may add resources you create or find yourself that others might find helpful.

  • Course Glossary
  • The journal below will be used extensively throughout the course. Please record your reflections, assigned and voluntary, there for your own records and to interact with the instructor. This journal is not visible to other students and offers privacy for your thoughts viewed only by you and the instructor.

• Topic 1
  This topic
  

  Topic 1

  Introductions, please

  • Before we start playing, let's see what kind of players you are. Please make your selection using the Trials link. After that please define what makes a good player and what makes a good game.

  • Trials Choice
  • A good game Forum
  • Games in Educational Context URL
  • Games in Education video Page
  • Add an entry to your journal Assignment
• Topic 2
  

  Topic 2

  Go WIIIIIILLLLDDDD!

  • 

    Take the plunge! Try this activity - a little game to play. After you completed your wild self, please answer the questions below. This will also be a great introduction activity. Introduce your wild self! By simply joining this course, you have revealed the wild explorer and the risk-taker you are. Here is your chance to befriend other "wild" people. The idea came up on the WhiteBoard Blog.
    

  • BuiLD YouR WiLD SeLF URL
  • Please add your creature to the post in the forum below. It will also have directions on how to take a screenshot.
  • YouR WiLD SeLF Forum
  • Add an entry to your journal Assignment
  • ADVANCED: Take your creature beyond the funny picture into habitat modeling Page
• Topic 3
  

  Topic 3

  Learning to Fly, or MigRatIOn to Di_fFerEn^TIatiON
  

  • 

    This interactive mission, Mission: Migration, although recommended for ages 7+, is not a piece of cake. It is very very hard!
    While testing it - hope you get through, on the umpteenth try! - focus on the skills a player needs to have to be successful. Then summarize what you have learned as a result. Try to put it in the context of the classroom - will more communication make players more successful? Will working alone at home be the best way to go? If possible test it in the real classroom.
    

  • Helpful Hint Page
  • Mission Accomplished? Forum
  • Connection to Differentiation Assignment
  • How can this experience be expanded? Wiki
  • Add entry to your journal Assignment
• Topic 4
  

  Topic 4

  Focus on Essentials

  • 

    While you are playing this game, The Cost of Life, please come up with some essential questions that you might focus on when using it with your students.
    
    To brush up on essential questions, make your choices in the quiz below. If you don't agree with the grade (the choice made by me) please offer your arguments for your choice - I will happily override the grade!
    

  • What is an essential question? Page
  • Essential or factual? Quiz
  • Cost of Life: Questions Forum
  • Your essential questions Forum
  • Optional: Sample questions Page
  • Essentials Journal
• Topic 5
  

  Topic 5

  Soaring Higher

  • 
  • Bloom's Taxonomy: Too Much of a Good Thing? Choice
  • Bloom's Taxonomy Forum
  • Select one game to implement with your class. Post your essential questions here for the feedback from your colleagues. Design an assessment for your activity and attach it to the post. OPTIONAL: I have set up a wiki that you can edit, if you would rather use that for the assessment piece of your plan, feel free to do so.
    

    Image from Pixar's poster Wall·E
    

  • Post your essential questions for your game Forum
  • Games related to Social Causes/Issues Page
  • Assessment for the project Wiki
• Topic 6
  

  Topic 6

  Final Project: First Steps
  

  • In this section, it's your time to design a project which would take advantage of the inherent motivation and the learning opportunities that interactive games provide and put together a lesson plan. All projects will be made available to all the participants, so if you have a reason not to share, please let me know and we'll find a way to work around it. However, as educators, we all benefit from being generous with our work, and I strongly encourage you to share your lesson ideas.
    

  • Additional Resources, grouped by grade level File
  • Final Project Discussion Forum
  • Submit your project here Assignment
  • Final Project Checklist Page
• Topic 7
  

  Topic 7

  Final Project: The Wiseman's Game

  • 

    In this part of the final project, do the following:
    implement the lesson plan you have designed, review it after implementation (what worked well, what could be done better next time?), and submit the final version here.
    

    
    Image from yirsh at sxc.hu
    
  • Final Project Discussion: Final Draft: Game Over Forum
  • Optional: Submit your final draft of the project Assignment
• Topic 8
  

  Topic 8

  Feedback

  • Please use the following survey to share your evaluation of this course and suggestions on how to make it better. Your feedback is very much appreciated!

  • Feedback Survey URL