Brain Based Learning

There is a general agreement among researchers that games, when used properly, can be a useful educational tool, providing important narrative context for learning. However, there is no accepted design framework that successfully combines instructional design theory and game design. Most research to date has focused on efficacy, rather than prescribing implementation.

What is digital storytelling, and why should a content teacher bother with it? Isn’t this something for computer teachers to be doing with students? Actually, digital storytelling is relevant for any and every teacher – both as a way to create good teaching resources for your class, and as a useful assignment for students when they create their own stories. So what do you need to know about digital storytelling to begin?
Digital storytelling means creating stories, well, digitally – using a computer, as opposed to pencil and paper. Why is …

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
(right click & save link here to download this podcast)

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 …

Watchknow.org is a website that aims to collect free, educational videos that can be used by teachers in schools and organize them by topic. This allows teachers to find pre-screened videos on specific topics instead of having to spend hours in front of Youtube to find appropriate materials.
WatchKnow is a non-profit online community where anyone can create an account and add videos. Most, if not all, of the videos are hosted elsewhere, like Youtube or TeacherTube, and linked to with a brief review at WatchKnow. While the site is young …

Alice is a 3D environment for easily creating animations using drag and drop tiles, where instructions correspond to standard programming statements. Students focus on understanding concepts behind what they are doing rather than memorizing syntax or debugging typos.
Alice is a free program developed by MIT in order to encourage beginning programming students to get past the initial learning curve of programming and develop an interest in the possibilities programming can open up instead of getting stuck on baby steps. Alice was developed to be used by students in high school …