Let the Games Begin!
3rd Annual SUNY PACT Conference
The World & the Classroom
Keynote address – Candace Black
candacerblack@gmail.com
Cblack.wikispaces.com
June 5, 2014
How do we spend time on our devices?
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My own personal infographic…
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Gaming – The most important medium of
21st century
• Humans are collectively spending more than
3 billion hours a week gaming.
•
of all heads of households play
computer/video games
•
of young people play computer/video
games
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Technology’s impact on learning
100,000s
apps
Mobile
devices
Explosion
in gaming
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How can we accomplish this?
• By harnessing the motivational power
of games
• By developing activities that use the
essential characteristics of games, we
can engage students in meaningful
learning that is enjoyable and that
inspires them to continue learning.
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Participation warmup!
• Getting to know you, getting to
know all about you…
• PollEverywhere
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Participation warmup!
• 6 questions
• You may respond using:
– A text message from your phone – send a text to
37607; the message of the text will be the
number that corresponds to your answer.
– A mobile device (laptop, iPad, tablet) – go to the
following site: PollEv.com/candaceblack995 to
enter your answers.
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What is a game?
• A game is a powerful tool for inspiring
participation and motivating hard work.
• All games have four basic elements:
– Goal
– Rules
– Feedback system
– Voluntary participation
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What makes games fun for students?
• Progress indicators & instant feedback
In short, a GAME creates a
positive
environment
that
• Learner choice/control
motivates students to interact
• Collaboration
/ social
interaction
using the target
language
while
focused on a common goal.
• Increasing challenges
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What do students experience when playing games?
• They are…
– challenged
– focused
– fully-engaged
• They feel a sense of…
– power
– purpose
– community
– accomplishment
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The educational benefits of games
• The freedom to fail and to try again without
negative repercussions
• Bringing joy to the classroom
• Providing a manageable set of subtasks and
tasks
• Raising esteem and academic achievement at
the same time
• Fostering belonging & encouraging
cooperation
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The educational benefits of games
And most importantly…
• Games help students to engage
authentically with the target language.
• Language becomes the necessary
conduit by which they play the game.
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No workshop on games would be complete without…
As we play, please pay attention to
the elements of the game:
• Identify the goals, rules, feedback
system, and level of voluntary
participation.
• What are the progress indicators?
• Is there player choice involved?
• Is feedback provided
immediately?
• Are participants collaborating?
• Does the game become
increasingly more difficult?
• Is there social interaction during
the game?
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Game analysis
• Were the goals, rules, and feedback system
obvious to participants?
• What was the level of voluntary participation?
• Was there a progress indicator?
• Was player choice involved?
• Was feedback provided immediately?
• Did participants collaborate?
• Did the game become increasingly more
difficult?
• Was there social interaction during the game?
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Changing the way we look at games…
• Games are good for young
children.
• Games are good for all learners.
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Changing the way we look at games…
• Games waste valuable
instructional time.
• Properly designed games can be
an effective use of classtime that
accomplish instructional goals.
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Changing the way we look at games…
• Everything in moderation…
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Changing the way we look at games…
Games motivate and engage, and as such, are a highly
effective way to encourage natural interaction in the
target language towards learning goals.
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P is for Pipeline
• Work together to
maximize student
learning
– Visit classes
– Communicate
expectations for LOTE to
teachers & counselors
– Become active in your
local professional
organization or language
group
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P is for Pipeline
• Promote, support and
participate in the vast
array of intercultural
activities available
including:
– Exchange programs
– Foreign language
organizations/clubs
– Video conferencing
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P is for Pipeline
• Offer workshops at local,
state and national
conferences!
– Share your talents!
– Network with others!
– NYSAFLT 2014 events
• Summer Institute @
Oneonta
• Annual Conference in
Rochester
• Colloquium in Syracuse
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Conclusion
• Bring the joy of play into the world
language classroom!
• “Play is our brain’s favorite way of
learning.” - Diane Ackerman
(American author & poet)
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Conclusion
• Breakout session 1:30-2:45 p.m. Workshop #3 (Seminar room 202) –
“Creating Interactive Game Shows in a
Flash!”
• Games templates, how to set them up
and how to implement the games & lots
of playtime!
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Thank you!
• Questions?
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