Group items tagged

As a former Air Force officer, I completely agree with the title of this article. It is simply amazing to see how simulations, video games and other technological platforms are being used to educate and train our nation's soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen.

Teachers of students with autism say it's the year of the iPad. It provides motivation. It helps with therapy and handwriting practice. It even models appropriate ways to share toys or take turns.

This conversation and the reporting her have more depth.

An interesting article with examples of schools that are "closing the loop"--successfully connecting students, teachers, and technologists to advance the use of technology within the classroom). Also contains a nice visual.

This article discusses play in virtual worlds (focusing on World of Warcraft) with an emphasis both on the learning that takes place and the engagement. You'll have to log in with your Harvard ID to get the article, FYI. "Our observation showed that players are motivated by the game's scope, rules, and scenario to create and participate in virtual communities, and share their knowledge with others, while newcomers are encouraged to engage in collective actions, and develop their skill base. We also found that although current MMORPGs have not been designed as instructional tools, they provide an excellent fantasy environment for intrinsically motivating learning, where players can experience the elements of challenge, curiosity, and control [30]." "People engage in pervasive games that use the best of two worlds, the virtual and the physical, in order to offer to its players the sense of maximum enjoyment."

This article discusses 20 tips to enhance one's collaboration and blended learning experience.

Children who cannot use a mouse or keyboard can play computer games using their eyes Computer games which can be controlled by eye movements are being developed by researchers at a UK university.

An article about computer games in science education using "active prolonged engagement," as opposed to "planned discovery."

Social studies teacher using entertainment videogames

Teaching principles of algebra without the use of numbers. How well do these principles get carried over into math?

Teacher Joel Levin has seen the positive effect Minecraft can have on relationships among schoolchildren - especially on those who would otherwise be dismissed for being too geeky. "Suddenly those computer skills become transferable into social capital," he says. Mr Levin is the co-ordinator of Minecraftedu which was set up to show how the game can be used in classrooms. About 1500 schools are now using it as a teaching aid and not just in computer science lessons.

I saw a guy playing an XBox video game that was loadd onto his console in Denver at Logan airport using a service like this. Very cool service that suspect will only continue to grow over the next year. Certainly this innovation in networked entertainment delivery has potential in the education sector.

Is Google "really" making us stupid? How does the ability to easily access a breadth of information affect our motivation to go for depth?

"Location data from mobile phones has indicated that 93 per cent of human movement is predictable... the researchers, from Boston, USA and China, believe that it could be useful for mobile networks' data load management, city planning and anticipating the spread of viruses."

One study showing how the use of realistic avatars can influence people to exercise or eat better and can influence they way they view women.

The US Army knows quite a bit about engagement, motivation and flow. The video game America's Army is working to ensure a steady flow of young, tech savvy people into the ranks.