Games in Primary School Education

Maritza van den HeuvelInnovation Lab DirectorPearson@maritzavdh

• Explore why games are so effective• Review the positive impact gaming can

have on learners• Unpack Key Concepts

o Gamificationo Game-Based Learning

• See examples of online games in action• Play :)

What are we going to do?

What do we mean by Games?

Many definitions ...

"A game is a form of play with goals and structure."

Kevin J. Maroney

What is a Game?

• play• goals• rules• challenge• interactions• feedback• problem-solving*• characters*

Marc Prensky, 2006

What is IN a Game?

• play involvement• goals motivation• rules structure• challenge adrenaline• interactive doing• feedback learning• interactions* social groups• problem-solving* creativity• characters* emotion

Marc Prensky, 2006

Why do Games Work?

“ ... when you meet today’s students where they live, in the digital world

that has been theirs for as long as they can remember…and you give

them different ways to learn, and chances to perceive success, that’s

when you start to see them get really excited about learning.”

Bob Collins, Former CIO, Los Angeles School District

Why use them in Schools?

o Games designed and created with explicit learning outcomes

o Balanced gameplay and subject matter content

o Practise, retain and apply knowledge

Game-Based Learning

• Applying game mechanics to non-game experiences

• Improving outcomes through game play

• Quests and Adventures• Small - A Subject• Medium - A Phase• Large Scale - A School!

Gamification

• = Game-Based Learning• Differentiates from games

for entertainment• Sometimes used for open-

ended “game engines” or “worlds” like SimCity Edu

“Serious” Games

• Primarily entertainment

• But …

• Problem-solving, strategy, planning, organization, collaboration, physical play

• Incidental learning outcomes

Commercial Games

Time To Play! :-)

Geography Genius:https://www.tigweb.org/games/flag/

Games for Content

Typing Factory:http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/typing_factory/home-keys-typing-practice.html

Games for Skills Practice

Musical Notes:http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/games/musical-notes/

Games for Visual Recognition

UNESCO Car RaceFree, Downloadable Game- Heritage Sites- HIV/AIDS

Games for Social Sciences

Code.org - Hour of Codehttp://code.org/

GBL Meets Gamification

Getting Started with Games

• Start small• Clear Goals• Integrate• Involve Kids• Experiment• Observe• Adapt

First Principles

• Educade• Lesson Plans• @fibeal @maggieverster

@clarkformaths @ICT_Integrator

Learn from Others

The game is only a tool. It’s not the goal in itself. Don’t use it as a gimmick.The Kids Will Know ;)

And Remember …

Game-Based Learning Ideas from ISTE - EduTopia, see Educade and SimCityEDU

Popular Video Games Integrated Into K-12 Learning - EdWeek

Geography Genius: Flags of the World - Taking IT global

Maths Games - Nrich Maths

16 of the best maths apps for kids from 2013 for iPhone / iPad - Apps Playground

Learning Games For Kids - Learning Games for K12

Game Sites to Explore

How Gamification Works - 3D Game Lab

Serious Games Institute of South Africa (SGI-SA)

Make learning fun - teachers, are you game?

Games, Learning, and Assessment

Gamification vs. Game Based Learning in Education - Gamification corp

Digital Game-Based Learning - Marc Prensky

Mediocrity versus Mastery: The Case for Game-Based Learning - Forbes.com

Mario Kart in the classroom: the rise of games-based learning - The Telegraph

100 Great Game Based Learning and Gamification Resources - The Knowledge Guru

Quest to LearnA pioneering public school in New York City that offers a promising new model for student

engagement through wide adoption of gamification

Research and Reading