Use of Teacher-Designed Games for In-Class Implementation

1. Use of Teacher-Designed Games for In-Class Implementation Yang Liu, MEd; Qing Li, PhD. University of Calgary Findings Method Conclusion • Purpose • This study is a pilot project on giving teachers future suggestions to “physically” collaborate with “digital generation” in order to create an engaging and attractive learning environment. The findings of this study will focus on: • what theories did teachers use when they made their games in order to be implemented in class; • What are the characteristics of teacher-designed games? • Participants: • 10 students in the graduate course at a university of Canada • Course participants designing games targeting a particular group of learners • Two of the participants are currently instructional designer. • The rest of them are teachers from elementary to junior high school. • Data sources: • Initial data collection – direct class observation, students’ assignments and feedback • Other data sources – teacher created digital artifacts (e.g. teacher self-created games, portraits of players). • Focusing on participants’ design documents and games • Date analysis: • A collective case study • Qualitative research by Marshall and Rossman’s (1999) • Research team composed of a professor and a graduate student. • Theories used in teacher-designed games • Learning theories • Design principles • Interface design and game mechanics • Characteristics of teacher-designed games • Customized and individualized games. • Detailed storylines in game design. • Engaging, fun and interesting learning environment • Significance of Study • To enhance teacher education • Teachers as game designers • Instructional practice related to games • Development of effective strategies of teaching in the digital era • Educators would be able to create games that serve the needs of our own students. • Teachers, as the subject matter experts and instructional designers, are able to build explicit learning objectives and target strategies and skills in the games. • Teacher-designed games have great potentials and would be able to function amazingly and dramatically in teaching. Find It – Maths game for Grade 2 Students CONTACT The Vault – History game for elementary students Qing Li, Phd Faculty of Education, University of Calgary Email: qinli@ucalgary.ca Phone: 1-403-220-5507 Website: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~qinli/ Yang Liu, MEd Faculty of Education, University of Calgary Email: yaliu@ucalgary.ca Phone: 1-403-616-6628