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How Alice Game Templates Support Student Learning

Alice Conference Duke University June 17, 2009. How Alice Game Templates Support Student Learning . Alka Harriger Purdue University harrigea@purdue.edu. Jane Nawrocki Springfield High School jnawrocki @ buckeye-express.com. Review & Reinforcement . “Practice makes Perfect”

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How Alice Game Templates Support Student Learning

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  1. Alice Conference Duke University June 17, 2009 How Alice Game Templates Support Student Learning

  2. AlkaHarriger Purdue University harrigea@purdue.edu Jane NawrockiSpringfield High Schooljnawrocki@buckeye-express.com

  3. Review & Reinforcement • “Practice makes Perfect” • Review is a recommended method for reinforcing student understanding • Tedious and boring, for teacher and student alike

  4. Games & Student Learning • Games have long been recognized to support student learning • Games = Fun • Computer games designed • to be read, • to be watched, • to be listened to, • but also to be manipulated in ways the designer/author had anticipated and also had never anticipated.” [Elliot Solloway] • Gaming is a way of life

  5. Why Alice? • Because the resulting virtual worlds can be fascinating and engaging to the learner • Because the worlds are relatively easy to create for novices

  6. New Challenge • How to provide all content-area teachers with games that were easy to edit? • The answer needed to unite specific educational content with computer games • Create gaming templates.

  7. Results • Vocabulary Jeopardy • Hollywood Squares • Foreign Language Bull Fight • Basketball • Whack-A-Mole Multiple Choice • Etc.

  8. Space Frogger • Based on 2-D, black and white version of Frogger on the old TRS-80. • Space Frogger is a new take on that old game • Takes original concept of a frog and lily pads but adds the intrigue of outer space.

  9. Strengths • Fun activity • Can be used in a variety of settings to review any subject matter at any skill level • Alice game template is easily manipulated by the teacher • No programming experience needed to add content-specific questions and answers

  10. Let’s Play Space Frogger • Demo

  11. Understanding Basic Structure item 0 item 1 item 2 item 3 item 4

  12. Adding/Editing Content Questions • Demo

  13. Conclusions • Alice-based game templates is only one of many instructional strategies that today’s teachers may use to combat student indifference during review and reinforcement lessons • This teaching strategy is supported by research that shows that games have “considerable success when designed to address a given problem.” [P. Deubel]

  14. SPIRIT–Attract People to IT Surprising Possibilities Imagined and Realized through Information Technology • Purdue University • Supported by a $1.26M NSF grant • Three-year project: January 2008 – December 2010 • Programs for HS teachers, HS guidance counselors, and HS students

  15. SPIRIT's Goals • Correct negative perceptions about IT • Let participants try out and create interesting and useful applications of IT • Give guidance on what to do now to have a successful career in IT

  16. SPIRIT Programs • 2-week teacher institute • Week 1 • Learn Alice • Develop lessons (containing Alice elements) • Week 2 • Instruct students using lessons developed in week 1 • Participate in IT-related activities • 1-week program for counselors (during week 2 above) • 1-week summer camp for students (during week 2 above)

  17. For more information about SPIRIT at Purdue University SPIRIT contact • AlkaHarriger, SPIRIT PI • Phone: 765.494.2565 • FAX: 765.496.1212 • Email: harrigea@purdue.edu • www.ITPossibilities.org

  18. Questions/Comments?

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