Gaming,+virtual+worlds+and+education


 * Summary:

In this class we will investigate the alternate world second life and examine alternate reality gaming. Warning: This class was devised before the "virtual classroom" mandate. What you learn in this class will not really be applicable for running a virtual classroom.**

Second Life:

[|Holiday Card]

[|Intro to Second Life:]

Alternative Reality Games

[|Link to get started in Second Life]

Agenda for June 4.

Falcon Village: first 15 minutes. 1. Get signed up. 2. Quick tour.

Second Life. 70 minutes 1. Read and discuss 7 things you should know. 2. Build an avatar. 3. Learn how to use the controls. 4. Visit a site.

break. 10 minutes

ARGs 70 minutes.

1. Watch 2 short films.

[|What is an ARG?] [|The Lost Experience]

2. Read and discuss 7 things you should know. 3. Play Superstruct.

[|2nd life movie]

The importance of engagement as it relates to learning. There is a growing body of literature as regards to the level of engagement and the stickiness of the learning. The students have to figure out what clues are true. The red herring technique is used to lead students astray. Students have to figure out what is the red herring (the trick question).
 * Introductions:**

Check out Kathy's book and Kathy's key in young adult fiction.

Get the book Cathy’s book in teen fiction.

Hold the book up.

It says sky girls.

In the class we will get started with second life:

- create an avatar - join the International Society for Technology in Education users group - tour the Sistine Chapel - tour the great wall of china.

Introduction to learning with gaming: []

Introduction to Alternate Reality Gaming:[| http://www.educause.edu/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutAlter/163614]

Games to enhance learning:[| http://www.missiontolearn.com/blog/2008/04/learning-games-for-change/]

Geocaching: []

check out www.unfiction.com

Florida Virtual High School now has a history game.

A lot of work to create the game but once you create it it can become fluid.

It's important for the story to have twists from year to year.

Part of the story can be unscripted, improvisational, reading mail, snail mail or email from one of the characters.

The solution is not the same every year.

Chris is going to experiment with using one for an astronomy class next year.

He is also going to put an element into a biotech class. Some sneaky crime has been commited and only through an understanding of biotechnology can the students solve it. It will be mostly narrative.