The Consolarium: Learning and Teaching Scotland’s advocate for games-based-learning

1. The Consolarium:Learning and Teaching Scotland’s advocate for games-based-learning

2. computer games are the most powerful learning tool of our age. -Professor Henry James MIT

3. I began researching this some time ago. What we saw was intellectual engagement, absolutely, without exception. What we also saw was a hunger to engage in the process. People didn’t just play, they engaged and reflected. -Stephen Heppell

4. Now what we are talking about here is computer games not just as games, but as a whole new learning form or platform of learning and one that has quite literally, unlimited learning potential. -Lord David Puttnam

5. Ok….What about the people managing and implementing technology and pedagogy in schools, what do they think? Anna Rossvoll: ICT Development OfficerAberdeenshireCouncil

6. Why computer games? • Whitfield Primary, Dundee, 1997-1999 • Games at Christmas-tetris • Problem solving with the Zoombinis • Using the Nintendo 64 to promote creative writing • Pupils were motivated and stimulated to learn • Encouraged and facilitated collaboration • Encouraged and facilitated learner reflection • A climate of active and knowledgeable participation • No fear in the approach to their learning

7. A tech-savy client group? • Prensky’s digital native digital immigrant thesis? • Modern technology is now embedded in, and integral to, young learners lives: • digital interactive TV • the internet • music downloads • computer games • mobile phones • instant messaging • social networks • blogs • ebay • online avatars • MMORPG • sharing media

8. Communication breakdown? • Do teachers (digital immigrants) speak a different language from young learners (digital natives)? • Is our methodology still based on how immigrants were socialised to learn? • slowly, step-by-step, linear, individually, seriously • Do immigrants implicitly assume that learners learn, and will continue to learn, the way they always have?

9. The Consolarium • Scottish Centre for Games in Education: • Comprehensive range of commercial consoles and games • PS2, PSP, PS3, Xbox360, DS, Wii, • Alienware PC • Intel Mac • Interactive whiteboard • Wi-fi access • www.ltscotland.org.uk/consolarium

10. What it aims to do • Promote games and learning • Act as a centre that teachers and educational managers can visit • Develop a community of interested partners • education, academic & industry • Nurture, support and celebrate effective and innovative practice with games • Address associated ‘moral panics’ and legitimate concerns • Embed games and learning in ACfE

11. Come to the Consolarium

12. Consolarium on tour!

13. Aberdeenshire Aberdeen City Dundee City Fife City of Edinburgh Stirling West Lothian Falkirk Renfrewshire Inverclyde Western Isles West Dunbartonshire East Dunbartonshire East Lothian Moray Perth & Kinross Who are we working with?

14. Our new learning space • A Curriculum for Excellence is currently under development: • Successful Learners • Confident Individuals • Responsible Citizens • Effective Contributors • Should curriculum and methodologies have cultural significance?

15. Enhanced learning? • Powerful motivational context • Science model (Problem solving) • Knowledge of other curricular areas • Metacognitive development • Formative assessment embedded • Collaborative contexts • Affective domain targeted • Culturally relevant and valued

16. Some of our projects… • Dr. Kawashima helps to improve numeracy • Cross-curricular work with Guitar Hero • Myst in Aberdeenshire • Computer games design • Crazy Talking in Stirling • Learning phonics through dance mats

17. How did the DS project start? • I bought a DS in March 2006 • Dr. Kawashima and some other titles • My ‘teacher radar’ made me consider how this might have an impact in class • Cognitive challenge • Possibility of helping mental maths • Game design fosters intrinsic motivation and a culture of achievement

18. Formulating the project • Dr. Kawashima’s Brain training is said to: • Exercise the pre-frontal cortex • Increase blood-flow to the brain • Help prepare learners for learning • Felt that there was a link with ‘Brain Gym’ in relation to: • The theory of exercising the brain • Preparing learners to learn

19. Dr. Kawashima Project • Three P.6 classes in schools in Dundee • One with Nintendo DS and Kawashima: 15/20 minutes a day, one Brain Age check every week • One class using Brain Gym for 15/20 minutes where and when appropriate • One control group • 10 week treatment period • Pre and post tests • Age appropriate Maths test • Burnett self scale

20. Self Concept Measure • Results of Burnett self concept measure • No statistically significant changes • Nintendo group only group to show average increase in this measure

21. Time taken to complete test 2. Average times on maths test • Statistically significant drop in times from Nintendo group • 17:01→13:19 • Some examples • Child W • 17:11→9:28 • Child X • 13:54→6:31

22. Score in maths test 2. Average scores on maths test • Statistically significant jump in scores from Nintendo group • 76 → 86 • Some examples • Child Y • 23→68 • Child Z • 60→90

23. Initial analysis… 2. Scores on Maths Test

24. Any impact on learning? Average scores on maths test • Statistically significant jump in scores from Nintendo group • 76 → 86 • Some examples • Child Y • 23→68 • Child Z • 60→90

25. Unexpected findings • Teacher commented on the change in atmosphere/ethos in the class: • Calmer • Less aggression • Collegiate ethos • ‘Togetherness’ • Independence • Enhanced self-esteem • “Don’t take them away!”

26. Guitar Hero:Cross-curricular learning • Guitar Hero Project • P.7 in Aberdeenshire • Last term of the year • Children wholly lost in the world of ‘rock and roll’ • Intrinsic motivation, enhanced learning, commitment to tasks • Impact on ethos

27. Guitar Hero • The game in action in the classroom Kim Applin: Primary Teacher AberdeenshireCouncil

28. Guitar Hero • Cross-curricular projects • Art & Design • Writing • Environmental Studies • Music • Drama • Design & Technology

29. Guitar Hero • Cross-curricular learning • Writing project linked to the Design & Technology guitar design activity Kim Applin: Primary Teacher AberdeenshireCouncil

30. Myst:Motivating children to write • Based on Tim Ryland’s work • In 20 primary schools across Aberdeenshire • CPD event held to help develop confidence an competence • GLOW groups to foster collaborative and supportive learning communities Myst in the classroom in Aberdeenshire

31. Myst:Impact in the classroom • Powerful motivational tool • Extending and enhancing writing • Reluctant writers engaged • Positive impact on behaviour • Natural home for formative assessment strategies • Context has currency and relevance Jonathan Cordiner: Primary 7 Teacher, AberdeenshireCouncil

32. Computer games design • Learners as creators, not just consumers: • Gamemaker • Thinking Worlds • Missionmaker • Neverwinter Nights • 2.5 days training for four teachers from eight Local Authorities • Funding for software to support the pilots

33. Crazy Talking in Stirling • Exploiting games related contexts • Link to avatar’s in games • Crazy Talk allows still images to become animated lip-synching characters • 25 licenses shared across local authorities • Stirling Council • P.7 Titanic project • Powerful motivational tool • Reluctant writers motivated to write (mostly boys) • Used with MFLE and E/S

34. Dance mats teaching phonics • Teaching reading via a dance mat? • Ramba Studios • Primary Phonics • West Lothian purchased 85 sets. One for every Early Years setting • Kinaesthetic learning style • Culturally engaging? • New way of approaching early reading skills

35. What else is happening? • 18 PS2s & 18 Wiis out in schools • Sony PSP project in the planning stages • Sony ‘Buzz Schools Quiz’ project • Pro-Evolution Soccer & Championship Manager in S5 • RM Easiteach dance mat for Gaelic • Phoenix Wright for writing in S2 • Developing AifL through ‘The Winning Game’ • Nintendogs in P.2 • Extended Dr. Kawashima research project

36. Let’s be realistic… • Successful learners require good teachers • This is another way through which we can engage digitally aware learners • We need to explore this medium but we need to be open-minded and practical • Continue to explore how can we aid the delivery of a modern and ambitious education system

37. Thank you d.robertson@ltscotland.org.uk http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/consolarium http://ltsblogs.org.uk/consolarium http://hotmilkydrink.typepad.com