Brain Based Learning

Lee Sheldon has published a book describing how teachers can set up their classrooms to mimic a game environment. This consists of (among other things) turning “assignments” into “quests,” allowing students to choose the quests they’re interested in, and using XP (experience points) earned by completing quests for grading purposes. The idea is to create a risk-free environment where students can be more creative than in a traditional class and even become mentors as they help other students get through their own quests.
Sheldon and others who have tried this method …

A colleague shared this Slideshare presentation with me on the topic of gamification – http://www.slideshare.net/ervler/gamification-future-or-fail – and while it is certainly not the only presentation/article on the topic it does include most of the main points that I’ve seen in other presentations and articles, so I thought it was worth giving my two cents.
The author identifies several gaming elements as being relevant for education, and I think all fall into the same category – motivation. Adding points, XP, leveling up, acheivements, etc all help students feel more excited about their …

Listen to Doug, Lisi, and John discuss different learning theories that can be found in educational gaming. Got a question or comment? Reply to @edtechtoday on Twitter with the hashtag #bbl-gbl

http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/dougbushong/597/EdutainmentTonight.mp3

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In this podcast I chat with Adam Mallerman from Rusty Mike Radio and Dena Lerner from Tomorrow’s Genius about the educational potential of games.

http://rmr.sharp-stream.com/adam_Dena&LisiGeffenGamesEdu%20_30-3-11(dl).mp3
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I was recently asked to describe game based learning, and how it differs from traditional learning. I think there a few key concepts that help explain this.
What is game based learning?
Game based learning is really any learning that involves using games – giving student points, or candy, when they answer questions correctly can be considered a game to enhance learning. I think it’s useful to think about the two different aspects of games in learning: you have the motivational aspect, or “fun factor,” which can wear off pretty quickly, and …

It’s not what you know, it’s how you know…that you know it… (huh???)
What’s an educational technologist to do? Objectivism, constructivism, behaviorism, cognitivism, there are many isms that don’t seem to get along very well. Although each perspective seems to reflect at least some part of reality, there is little middle ground to reconcile all these varied theories. Reality either exists and is revealed to us as we learn, or there is no reality outside of what we think we know. Each theory seems to exclude the world view of the …