Using games, social media, and
mobile devices in the classroom
Presented by: Assistant Professor, Akram Taghavi-BurrisGraphics and Imaging Technologies dept.
Abstract
The thought of students playing games, updating their facebook status or using mobile devices in class can give some educators the chills. This presentation aims to provide practical application of these new technologies in the classroom.
Problem & Solution
Problem Students lack of
Engagement Reinforced Learning
Solution Practical application of
Games Social Media Mobile Devices
Why
Presentation StrategiesWays information is presented to us
Push
Pull
Osmosis
what we know
Today’s generation of students growing up in a culture of “osmosis” and where “pulling” information is fun, making it is obvious that the “push” strategy cannot work on its own.
New Strategies
The evolution of digital games, emergence of social networking have helped shape new ways in which people are communicating, collaborating, operating and forming social constructs. (Klopfer, Osterweil, Groff, Haas, 2009)
10 million subscribers
World of Warcraft
800 million active memebers
Mobile Devices
What does it mean?
It means that our students can access information whenever, where ever they need/want it and can actively interact with it.
Games in Education
Tennis for Two
Player Demographics
Feedback
Feedback is the positive or negative response to the player’s choices (actions).
Feedback should encourage learning. Learning refers to learning the rules of the
game Learning gives players a sense of
accomplishment
Games as a system
Game systems are the set of interacting or interdependent elements forming the working game.
Game systems can encompass other systems, a common system found in games are economies. Economies are systems that allow for the
exchange of resources.
System Elements
Objects
Properties
Behaviors
Relationships
Educational Games
Oregon Trail
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego
Quest Atlantis
Food Force
Game Quality
Educational Commerical
Math Playground Math TV Grand Theft Auto IV
Commercial Games
Sid Meiers’ Civilization Revolution
Sim City
Professor Layton and Curious Village
Endless Ocean
Brain Age
Wii Sports
Game Design
When neither existing educational or commercial games meet the needs of your curriculum Teachers design a game Students design a game
Game Dev. Tools
Game Maker - http://www.yoyogames.com/
Unreal Development Kit - www.udk.com
Unity – http://unity3d.com/
Adobe Flash** – http://www.adobe.com
XNA Game Studio* - http://bit.ly/rcAaLm
Social Media in Education
What is Social Media
According to Wikipedia, social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue.
Social Media must provide the user with Information (Media) Collaboration / Networking Interaction
Types of Social Media
Social Bookmarking Del.icio.us Blinklist
Social Media Sharing Flickr Youtube
Social News Digg Reddit
Social Networking Facebok Google +
Wikies Wikipedia Wikia
Why Use It ?
Currently organizations are faced with highly complex problems that no one person can solve alone
80% of US organizations have employees collaborating in teams (Brown, 2011)
Many organizations today employ virtual collaboration (Brown, 2011).
Using Lifelines
Phone a friend Instant Message
Ask the Audience Public Post Comments
Help them Navigate
Information Reliability
Is everything on the web reliable? Consider: The credibility of the domain name (web
address) Is the content up-to-date What is credibility of the author Was the content helpful
Home Hippo
Educational Networks
Ning
Think.com
Digo
LMS
Public Networks
Linked In
Google +
Appilcation
Sharing Knowledge
Research
Collaboration
Be precise write meaningful content in 140 characters or
less
Check Crediabilty
Mobile Devicesin Education
Types of Devices
Phones iPhone
Pocket computers
Mp3 Players iPod
Tape Recorders
Tablets iPad
Small computer Electronic Text Book
Using Phones
Present information with QR codes qrcode.kaywa.com
Organize with Calendars
Take a poll polleverywhere.com
Take Pictures / Make Videos
Record lectures
Using Phones
Take Time (stopwatch)
Calculator / Unit Conversion
Text Announcements / Reminders
Flash Cards
Quick Notes
Using iPods
Download Study Guides Spark Notes SAT Vocabulary Cisco Study Guides
Podcasts GoogleGet iTunes U
Books on Tape Audible
Using iPads
Electronic Textbooks iBooks Kindle Course Smart
Notes Evernote inClass SmartNote
Curriculum Enhancers
PBS TED WolfamAlpha
Art & Creativity Sketchbook Photoshop Express Symphony
Using iPads Science
NASA App Star Walk EMD PTE Web MD
Language Dictionary Translators
Geography Google Earth
Maps of the World
Math Math Board Calculator
Conclusion
Games, social media and mobile devices can provide tools to engage and reinforce learning by offering students interaction and near instant feedback.
Thank You
Assistant Professor, Akram Taghavi-BurrisGraphics and Imaging Technologies dept.
@ataghaviburris (twitter)
www.akramsideas.com
References
Annetta, Leonard A. “Video Games in Education: Why They Should Be Used and How They Are Being Used” Theory Into Practice; Summer2008, Vol. 47 Issue 3, p229-239, 11p, 2.
Baron, Peter; Koe, Ernest; Ritchie, Steve; Stites, William. Ed Social Media. 2011. Web. 2 Nov 2011. (http://www.edsocialmedia.com)
Bodnar, Kipp. “22 Educational Social Media Diagrmas” HubSpot Blog, 2010. Web. 2 Nov 2011. (http://bit.ly/a5n19D)
References Brown, Donald. (2011). An Experiential Approach to
Oragnizational Development. Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
Entertainment Software Association (ESA). “Industry Facts.” theesa.com. Entertainment Software Association, 2011. Web. 1 Nov 2011. (http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp)
Klopfer, Eric; Osterweil, Scot; Groff, Jennifer; Haas, Jason. (2009). The Instructional Power of Digital Games, Social Networks, Simulations and How Teachers Can Leverage Them. Education Arcade, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
References
McLeod, Scott. “Do Most Educational Games Suck?” dangerouslyirrelaevant.org. Dangerously Irrelevant, 2009. Web. 2 Nov 2011. (http://bit.ly/9XzfTb)
Robinson, Sir Ken. “Changing Education Paradigms.” YouTube, 14 Oct 2010. Online video. 1 Nov 2011. (http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U)
Toppo, Greg. “Social Media Find Place in Classroom” USA Today, 2011. Web. 2 Nov 2011. (http://usat.ly/qg7nGA)