alice conference duke university june 17, 2009. alka harriger purdue university [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
How Alice Game Templates Support Student Learning
Alice ConferenceDuke UniversityJune 17, 2009
Jane NawrockiSpringfield High School
Alka HarrigerPurdue University
Review & Reinforcement
“Practice makes Perfect”
Review is a recommended method for reinforcing student understanding
Tedious and boring, for teacher and student alike
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
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
New ChallengeHow 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.
ResultsVocabulary Jeopardy
Hollywood Squares
Foreign Language Bull Fight
Basketball
Whack-A-Mole Multiple Choice
Etc.
Space FroggerBased 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.
StrengthsFun 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
Let’s Play Space Frogger
Demo
Understanding Basic Structure
questionsList
In which century are we?
Who is president?
2x=14x=?
Hoy es …
etc.
ansAList
21st
Obama
14
lunes
etc.
ansBList
20th
Bush
2
martes
etc.
ansCList
22nd
Lincoln
null
miercoles
etc.
ansDList
2009
Oprah
7
jueves
etc.
correctAnsList
A
A
D
C
etc.
item0
item1
item2
item3
item4
Adding/Editing Content Questions
Demo
ConclusionsAlice-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]
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
SPIRIT's Goals1. Correct negative perceptions about IT
2. Let participants try out and create interesting and useful applications of IT
3. Give guidance on what to do now to have a successful career in IT
SPIRIT Programs2-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)
For more information about SPIRIT at Purdue University
SPIRIT contact Alka Harriger, SPIRIT PI
Phone: 765.494.2565 FAX: 765.496.1212 Email: [email protected]
www.ITPossibilities.org
Questions/Comments?