Mobile Learning and Digital Games in School

Introduction to Digital Games in School

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Alien

Digital Games in Class. Something from another world?

If you are looking for a change in methodology, a different way of using media in class, interactive content for mobile devices and computers to round up the lesson, try EDUGAMES.

What are E D U G A M E S ? Edugames are educational games used for school. There are a wide variety of games ready to use and many ways of using other games in class, no matter what subject you teach, how old your students are, or what kind of school you work in. This introduction contains five different ways of using games, they are separated in levels according to the time and effort a teacher might need to deal with them.

I-Questionaut is an example for Edutainment. It is a test in different subjects. Watch the walkthrough or
k
ey in form of video. Part 1

Part 2

Level 1 Games for beginners with little time, you needn't be a gamer to succeed. Instructions: Take and use, easy!

  1.  Teachers play and wonder.
  2.  Students play. 
  3.  Teachers and students go through the exercises together.

Resources / Links: Key. How does the game work? (Only for teachers)

More games for class with resources and key:

For Germany: Cornelsen Genius Reihe cornelsen.de Politics, Physics, Mathematics, Biology.

Klett  Heureka Edutainment and Clever Lernen  

braingame-shop.de Biology, Geography, Chemistry, History, Informatics etc.

English and French games Serious.gamesclassification.com Languages

II-Samorost 1 A game to adapt  amanita-design.net try it out!

Level 2 for false beginners with an hour time to prepare. Instructions: Take and adapt free online games.

  1. Teachers play and think about the possibilities to use the game with their class.
  2.  Students play.
  3. Students do the exercises the teacher prepared for them.   

Resources / Links

Key How does the game work? (Only for teachers) adventurespiele.net in German with pictures. youtube.com Video in English. There are more versions in Google.

Three ideas to use Samorost 1

1. German, French and English

Discussion in class:
Where is the gnome?, What can he see?
Task: Write a blog for the gnome‘s friends.

2. Biology

Discussion in class: What kinds of plants and animals live there?
Task: Make a list of what kind of animals from earth could live there.

3. Mathematics

Discussion: How does the gnome avoid the collision of planets?
Task: Calculate the speed of the planets.


Resources/links: More games to adapt amanita-design.net 
More information: A teacher explains how he adapts games/ Video

III-Your Game Teachers design their own games
  scratch.mit.edu

Level 3 for hard working teachers with a few hours time.

  1.  Search tools.
  2.  Design your games.
  3.  Students play.
  4.  Students do the exercises the teacher prepared for them, or even design a game themselves and present their work to the class.

Ressources / Links  You can find scratch tutorials in German language too.
digitalschoolhouse.org.uk/ Tutorial SCRATCH for teachers and students  Free lessons.
More links to design your own games:
Lessons in German for informatics

More information:
Teachers in different subjects have a meeting to exchange experiences.

IV-Transmedia a new generation of games for the classroom. Inanimate Alice.

Level 4 Transmedia for fiction and literature lovers with some hours time.

  1. Teachers play, learn and wonder about non linear learning and the possibilities of different teachers working together combining different subjects in one game.
  2. Teachers use all or many kinds of media to make their own game or use Inanimate Alice as it is.
  3. Students play with Transliterature and interactive fiction. Good for Language learning. German, English, French.
  4. Students do the exercises using a wide variety of media.

Ressources / Links:  inanimatealice.com/starter.html and inanimatealice.edu.au

V-Flipped Classroom reloaded for Natural Sciences, Math and Languages.

Level 5 for teachers with a lot of ideas and some time to spare working on power point presentations.

  1.  Students practice in the lab / do exercises at school.
  2. Teachers make videos with explanations.
  3. Students watch the videos at home or on their iphones and prepare for the lesson.

Resources/links: How does Flipped Classroom work?
More links to Flipped Classroom  Lessons on different subjects. Summary „What is Flipped Classroom?"