the history game:
DESCRIPTION
The History Game: Taking the classroom outdoors with mobile devices The main aim of the session is to stimulate participants to think about how to use the outdoor space more creatively for language activities. In this session I will show the case study of how 6th graders could explore the history of their local area by turning it into a game. After finding out some significant events, the students make a simple game to guide players from one place in the historical story to another by the use of short texts, images, audio or video. These are then uploaded to a free tool which players access when they want to play the game. This activity could be extended to all sorts of different themes such as a sight-seeing tour or a detective mystery game. The activity is not restricted to the use of one tool; there are several free tools available which can do a similar job.TRANSCRIPT
The History Game
Taking the classroom outdoors with mobile devices
Outdoor schoolRapid set-upTo engage pupils in their own worldLocal history
Why?
http://annefox.eu
How?• Turn it into a game • Learn about some
pivotal events in local history
• Consult the local history society
• Explore the local area (ie walk around)
• Work out a treasure trail with one right answer leading to the next clue.
http://annefox.eu
Who does what?
Players (students)• Download the free
Scvngr app to your iPhone or Android phone
Designers (students)• Prepare the treasure
hunt with questions, prompt materials which might include images, audio and video as well as text.
http://annefox.eu
How – the tools• The clues or questions in the game could
include text, photos, videos, audio or Internet links.
• This is uploaded to Scvngr
http://annefox.eu
http://annefox.eu
http://annefox.eu
How it appears on your phone
http://annefox.eu
Disadvantages• You need to use a small amount of
data to play the game on a smartphone
• SCVNGR (& most other AR* tools) is in English
• *AR = Alternate Reality
http://annefox.eu
Advantages• Small projects are free
• Quite easy to set up
• Most student effort goes into planning & producing clues
• Gets students out, interacting with each other & local experts
• You only need one smartphone per group
• Fun product at the end
http://annefox.eu
Where are we now?• Pupils have done the research
• They have created the route and the questions
• They are now producing the media (text, photos and so on) needed to enter the treasure hunt on to SCVNGR
http://annefox.eu
LINKS• My webpage http://annefox.eu
• My podcast http://www.absolutely-intercultural.com
• SCVNGR http://www.scvngr.com
http://annefox.eu