How do I Adapt Games for Learning?

Summary

This episode of Experience Points by University XP, hosted by Dave Eng, explores how educators can adapt games for learning. It delves into the challenges and strategies involved in game-based learning, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate games and integrating them with traditional teaching methods. The episode also highlights the need for flexibility, the role of assessments, and the potential of games to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Educators are encouraged to start small and progressively adapt games to fit their educational goals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Game Space learning leverages the fun and engaging nature of games to enhance educational experiences.
• 🎮 Games are not just for entertainment; they can be adapted for learning, fostering behaviors that influence interaction, shopping, and travel.
• 👨‍🏫 Educators are often tasked with adapting existing games to serve as teaching tools, emphasizing the importance of experiential learning.
• 🛠️ Adapting games for learning involves overcoming challenges such as aligning game content with learning outcomes and managing preconceived notions about games.
• 🔍 Educators must carefully select games that are appropriate for their learners, considering mechanics, emotional impact, and the learning environment.
• 📚 Game Space learning can be integrated with traditional instruction, using games to break up lesson plans and enhance learner engagement.
• 👥 Games can be applied in various formats, from solo to socialized environments, and can be cooperative or competitive to reinforce learning outcomes.
• 🧩 Adapting games requires flexibility from both educators and learners, as games offer an open-ended process for meaning creation through interaction and engagement.
• 📈 Strategies for game adaptation include curating appropriate games, using games to augment instruction, and applying different pedagogical approaches.
• 📝 Assessments are critical in game-based learning to ensure learners meet desired outcomes, with both formative and summative assessments being important.
• 🌐 The future of educational game development lies in dynamic adaptation to learner needs, with digital games offering personalized challenges and assessments.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the 'Experience Points' podcast episode?

The episode focuses on how educators can adapt games for teaching and learning, addressing the challenges and strategies involved in game-based learning adaptation.

Why should educators consider adapting games for teaching and learning?

Educators should consider adapting games because they can be used as experiential learning tools that make learning engaging and fun, helping learners apply concepts in practice while fostering teamwork and other learning outcomes.

What are some challenges educators face when adapting games for educational purposes?

Challenges include aligning the game with desired learning outcomes, managing learners' expectations, dealing with time constraints, and ensuring the game adaptation fits within the educational environment.

What are some strategies educators can use to adapt games for learning?

Educators can select games appropriate for their students, use games to complement traditional instruction, start small with game adaptations, and gradually integrate game elements that support learning outcomes.

How does game-based learning differ from traditional learning methods?

Game-based learning provides an open-ended, experiential approach where learners create meaning through interaction and engagement, often in a more flexible and dynamic environment than traditional linear teaching methods.

What role does reflection play in game-based learning?

Reflection is crucial in game-based learning as it reinforces metacognitive behaviors, allowing learners to evaluate their experiences, and educators to assess the effectiveness of the game adaptation.

How can games be used in different educational settings?

Games can be used in solo formats for puzzles and scenarios, or in socialized settings for cooperative or competitive activities, making them adaptable to various educational contexts, from primary schools to adult learning environments.

What considerations should be made when selecting a game for educational adaptation?

Educators should consider the game's mechanics, emotional impact, the learners' backgrounds, the time commitment, and the modality of the educational environment to ensure the game aligns with the desired learning outcomes.

Why might it be preferable to create a new game for educational purposes rather than adapting an existing one?

Creating a new game might be preferable because it can be designed specifically to meet the educator's and learners' needs, avoiding the limitations and challenges of adapting commercially available games.

What is the future of game-based learning and serious games in education?

The future of game-based learning involves dynamic adaptation, where digital games can adjust to players' behaviors and skill levels, offering tailored challenges and maximizing learning outcomes while assessing progress.