Worth a Read: Can an Immersive Video Game Teach the Nuances of American History? | MindShift | KQED News

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteCan an Immersive Video Game Teach the Nuances of American History? | MindShift | KQED News. “The most encouraging to see is the games being launchpads for really in-depth conversations in which kids at varying academic levels feel equipped to … Continue reading →

Where is the line between good instructions and hand-holding?

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesOne of the great things about games is their potential for delivering just-in-time instruction. Most games require some sort of user assistance, whether it be instructions, in-game tutorials, or a help system. Many games integrate help and tutorial information into the gameplay … Continue reading →

Is Fun Really Necessary for Serious Games?

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteMany people in Education seem to believe that fun and education are at odds with each other. Some years ago I did a survey with public school teachers to see if they were using games in school, and if not, … Continue reading →

Do All Games Include a Conflict?

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesYes. And: No. It depends on how we define things. First, I think it’s important to distinguish between digital games and non-digital or ‘analog’ games in these discussions. Few can agree on a precise definition for ‘game’ and there has … Continue reading →

Game Based Pedagogy and the Importance of Teacher Support

Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesIn my upcoming book I talk about the importance of teacher support for educational games. It is the 3rd pillar in my 4PEG model. In order to gain acceptance in a traditional classroom, GBL ‘objects’ need to be “canned”, meaning they need to … Continue reading →

4PEG Review: Gambling Never Pays [Magic Bullet Games]

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteA number of chapters in my upcoming book talk about how to review games, and I go into my 4PEG model in detail. I review 7 games in the book. Here’s another. This review is of an educational game, and … Continue reading →

Worth Sharing: Games for Impact Report

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteIf you are interested in serious games, this newsletter is one you should get. Mark DeLoura from the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy produces a weekly report on serious games that is well worth reading. Sign up for … Continue reading →

7 Ways to Use Games in the Classroom

Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteThere are many ways to use games in the classroom. Games can be used as: Content – The content of the game directly addresses some curricular need. Example – In this case the game is being used as an example of or an artifact … Continue reading →