Week Two Agenda

Video Games  

Part I

In class small groups: Video Games and Learning Principles 

As you are getting settled BEFORE class begins, take a few minutes to explore some of these games.

Noteworthy: 

  • Field Placements
  • Assignment Due  29 January : WordPress ePortfolios & BlogPost 2 
  • If you have yet to do so, please send me a link to your ePortfolio

Reading: Gee, J.P. (2007) Good video games, the human mind, and good learning. pp. 22-44.

Introductions (cont.)

  • BlogPost I Introductions
  • A few questions: The course
  • What must be in place for you to feel comfortable taking intellectual and creative risks in a course?

Workshop: 

  1. Create your ePortfolio as a Website with a Blog: My Sites >> Customize>>Homepage Settings>> A static front page>>Select a page to be your Front or Homepage and which will be your Post page;
  2. ePortfolio | Add some Widgets
  3. The Reader:  
  4. Control how and when you are notified: My Sites>>Settings>>Discussion>> Save Settings.
  5. The Editor: Visual | HTML
  6. Home page, please author a statement of purpose that relates your new website to this course. (+/- 100 words)
  7. Developing an understanding of HYPERLINKS and HYPERLINKING STRUCTURES:
    1. A navigational structure of pathways 
    2. Follow this link to a schematic visual of the organization of your ePortfolio website

Discussions:

  1. Simulations  “You build simulations to understand the world and make sense of things, but also to help you prepare for action in the world…”  James Gee, 2007, 23-24
  2. Affordances  “An affordance is a feature of the world (real or virtual) that will allow for a certain action to be taken, but only if it is matched by an ability in an actor who has the wherewithal to carry out such an action.” James Gee, 2007, 25
  3. Distributed Intelligence & Off-loading  “Writing, digital computers, and networks each allow us to externalize some functions of the mind.” James Gee, 2007, 26 (offloading, 27)
  4. Forcing our students to learn vs. Dumbing down the learning (Is this really our only choice)? 28
  5. Drill & Practice (10-15 minutes/week and no more…) 30

Viewing: James Paul Gee on Learning with Video Games

In class small groups: Video Games and Learning Principles 

Part II

In class small groups: Video Games and Learning Principles 

Reading: Gee, J.P. (2007) Good video games, the human mind, and good learning. pp. 22-44.

Noteworthy: 

  • Reading for next week:  
    • Required –> . Gershenfeld, A. (2014). Mind Games. Scientific American, 310(2), 54-59.
    • Recommended –> Game-Based Learning | Get tips, techniques, and tools that apply the principles of game design to the learning process — a dynamic way to engage learners and help educators assess learning —  Edutopia .

    • Recommended –>  Video Games and Learning | MindShift – KQED

  • A few questions: The course & me

Workshop: 

  1. Create your ePortfolio as a Website with a Blog: My Sites >> Customize>>Homepage Settings>> A static front page>>Select a page to be your Front or Homepage and which will be your Post page;
  2. ePortfolio | Add some Widgets
  3. The Reader:  
  4. Control how and when you are notified: My Sites>>Settings>>Discussion>> Save Settings.
  5. The Editor: Visual | HTML
  6. Home page, please author a statement of purpose that relates your new website to this course. (+/- 100 words)
  7. Developing an understanding of HYPERLINKS and HYPERLINKING STRUCTURES:
    1. A navigational structure of pathways 
    2.   Follow this link to a schematic visual of the organization of your ePortfolio website

Discussions: 

Viewing:  James Paul Gee on Learning with Video Games

Monday 29 January Assignment Due: WordPress ePortfolio & BlogPost 2