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yet another resource for games and learning

video game and education, edutopia

relates to my T545 course this spring

is this the right approach?

Although learning game design is valuable in itself, the learning objectives are vague and feedback doesn't seem to be embedded in the process. Gamestar claims that the game is adaptable to all content areas, however, without learning objectives from the outset students may master game design without learning classroom subject matter.

Thanks for sharing Sandra, this was an interesting article about injecting passion into our lessons. There were two questions I was thinking about though: 1) If we're not already passionate about something, why and how should we get passionate about it? 2) Excitement and passion do not equate to learning whereas solving problems or inquiry-based learning focuses the lessons on learning. Is that better? Cheers!

I agree that some students may be more musically inclined but will integrating music into all aspects of the curriculum, as the article suggests, really help students learn?

Thanks for sharing Sandra. I think it depends on how well the teacher designs the activity. It also depends on how the music is used. For example, music in a game is really important, but it's in the background. So the player doesn't really pay attention to it, until it's turned off. I think music can really help us learn, but it depends on the context in which it's used.

Thanks for this link, Matthew, and for the comment on it, Sandra! I think that music is a great avenue for learning. From personal experience, I seem to study better and with more focus and future recollection when music is playing in the background. It would be great to see if music truly does have a connection with the acquisition and recollection of knowledge.

How are games aligned with visual, kinesthetic, auditory and read/write learners? Read on.

This article explores the educational game Minecraft and provides ideas for lessons and projects.  The interdisciplinary game has the potential to enhance math skills, social studies/history learning, and reading comprehension.  

Back to the main course- Poetry, which often seems like an esoteric borfest in school, is given relevance when learners see it as useful and meaningful. This illustrates an important principle for me about engagement. With or without technology, usefulness and meaning are the deal makers or breakers.

Gee comments on video games and project-based learning.

This guide includes world of warcraft in school and other games like The World Peace Game..

thoughts about flow

A set of excellent TED talks on education

This article offers a useful guide for synthesizing some of the ideas from T545 to classrooms.

I can't argue with this article. Good points.

This article proposes that one of the reasons to integrate technology into the curriculum is to support active engagement in learning.