Fun Assessment: How
to Embed Evaluation
with Educational Games
Mary J. Snyder Broussard
Theresa McDevitt
Trivia Tic-Tac-Toe
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Each table divides into two teams, each
team selects one type of candy to be their
game pieces
Teams take turns asking questions from
cards
Correct answers earn team the right to
place their game piece on the board
First team to get four in a row wins!
What did we just do?
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Play a game?
Do some assessment?
Both?
Games are for Everyone!
Theresa
Mary
Librarian at Indiana University of
Pennsylvania, a medium sized
public university
Librarian at Lycoming College, a
very small, private, residential
college
Teaches for-credit library courses
and one-shot sessions - has for
25+ years
Teaches many one-shot library
sessions, but found opportunities
outside of the library classroom
as well
Was a professional librarian for
20 years before becoming
interested in games – finds using
games to be transformational
Got into games soon after
entering the profession
My definition of games
My definition of games
Assessment
Assessment -- From Scary to Fun
Empowering assessment is:
frequent
o less threatening (low stakes)
o provides feedback that allows students to reflect
and try again
o motivating
o when embedded in games
o is FUN !!!
o
Play to Learn
Games
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Games- inherently interactive
Video games- constant assessment
Skill-based board games like Scrabble
and Trivial Pursuit include assessment
and feedback
Must be well-matched to educational goals
Educational Game Use
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How many have never used games in an
educational setting?
How many have used games and/or fun
activities in an educational setting at least
once?
How many use them every chance they
get?
Library Jeopardy as Pre-test!
Location-Based Games
Location-Based Games
Games Drawing from Television
http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/holly.hellerross/
Goblin Threat
Getting "Concrete" Data
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Debriefing with "clickers"
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Online statistics
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Surveys
Game On
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Do you use games in your library
classroom? If so, please describe briefly.
Do you feel you clearly understand the
relationship between games and
assessment?
Do you intend to use games (or more
games) in the future as an assessment
tool?
Conclusion
Games serve as:
pre-tests
chance to encourage the good while
gently correcting the bad
chance to explore/prove new skills
opportunities for discussion and feedback
inherently interactive and engaging
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