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Using Games in the Language, Literature and Linguistics Classroom

January 26, 2009 by Barbara Bird

Games and simulations offer the opportunity for students to learn through meaningful activity. Join us on Thursday, Jan 29 at 2:30 pm in 259A Van Hise for an introduction to using games in the language, literature and linguistics classroom.

This brief workshop is offered in preparation for Engaging to Learn: Simulations and Games 2009 Call for Ideas. The DoIT Engage Grant Program is again offering opportunities for faculty, instructional staff and teaching assistants who are seeking an interactive solution to disciplinary teaching or learning challenges to explore and experiment with developing simulations and/or games for learning.

During the January 29 workshop Doug Worsham, L&S Learning Support Services, will present an overview of what's going on in the world of games in language learning.

Engage Grant recipients from the College of Letters & Science will share their experiences working with games, languages, literature and linguistics.

Chris Lupton, DoIT Academic Technology, will be on hand to offer advice and guidance on the Engage grant application procedure.

For a preview of games and simulations already being developed and used in L&S, please see

 

Comments

many opportunities for exploration!

January 28, 2009 by Doug Worsham, 40 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 16

Games and Sims Title SlideHi everyone! I'm looking forward to this discussion about the potential for games and simulations in language learning at UW-Madison.

My goal will be to quickly guide you through some interesting projects at other schools and universities that I've come across at conferences, and in conversations with colleagues.

These projects show language instructors using games and simulations in a variety of different contexts, and suggest many opportunities for exploration.

Here are some resources and references from my part of the workshop:

If you have feedback on the workshop, questions, or comments, please add them here! Our hope is that we'll be able to continue the conversation!

 

Flyswatter

January 31, 2009 by Chris Lupton (not verified), 39 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 23

P.S. Where I can I view the famous flyswatter game??

- Chris

Flyswatter game - revealed!

February 2, 2009 by Doug Worsham, 39 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 25

Hi Chris - thanks for the question. I really should have explained what the flyswatter game is in the workshop! In fact, if we'd had more time, we could have started off the workshop with a bit of flyswatting! That would have been a great warm-up, and an excellent lead-in to a discussion of the varied roles that gaming can play in teaching.

There are a number of pages online that describe how to play the game. Here's a description of the flyswatter game from the BBC. And here are a couple of news articles, one from the Ventura Country Star, and another from the Harvard University Gazette with pictures of kids playing the game.

Happy flyswatting!

Proposing a brief Initial Idea for an Engage Award

January 28, 2009 by Chris Lupton (not verified), 40 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 18

 

Simulations & Games 2009

December 10, 2008 - February 16, 2009 @ 12:00 noon.

Need an interactive solution to a teaching or learning challenge?

Games and simulations offer the opportunity for students to learn through meaningful activity. Engage is offering a second round of opportunities for faculty, instructional staff and teaching assistants who are seeking an interactive solution to disciplinary teaching or learning challenges to explore and experiment with developing simulations and/or games for learning.

Round Two of Engaging to Learn: Simulations & Games will begin December 10, 2008. Proposals will be solicited in a 4-stage process:

Stage 1: Initial Idea - open Dec. 10, 2008 - February 16, 2009 @ 12:00 noon
Stage 2: Two-Page Preliminary Proposal - January 13 - March 31, 2009
Stage 3: Invited proposals announced - May 29, 2009
Stage 4: Design and Development - July 2009 - June 2010

Solutions should be for use in timetable courses or as part of the Wisconsin Experience (for example, with Freshmen Interest Groups) or in the Writing Center. You can see some of the current projects we are working on here.

Questions? Call 262-5667 or e-mail us and mention Simulations & Games 2009.

Who should apply:

UW-Madison faculty, instructional staff, and teaching assistants with:
1.) an idea or concept for a simulation or game, and
2.) an interest in experimenting with creative and innovative approaches to teaching and learning with simulations and games, and
3.) an interest in collaborating with an Engage team of designers, developers, and evaluators.

What is the award?

During Stage 1, we ask you to complete a short form to submit your idea and register for a Design Orientation. The Design Orientation will prepare you to submit the two page preliminary proposal for Stage 2 by March 31.

Selected applicants will be invited to submit a proposal for Stage 3. If you've been invited to Stage 3, you will work with Engage staff to further develop your idea. This work can then be submitted to Stage 4. Simulations and games selected for Stage 4 will enter Engage's iterative design and development process.

Application:

Submit your idea and let us know when you are available for a design orientation. http://engage.doit.wisc.edu/sims_games/application.php

 

Engage will hold two Design Orientations whose purpose is to help you further develop your idea(s) in preparation for Stage Two, the two-page proposal. The content of each orientation is the same - we are only asking you to attend one session, but please check all dates you could attend. We will e-mail you to confirm your Design Orientation date:

Wednesday, February 11th, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 19th, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Questions? Contact engage or call us at 262-5667 and mention Simulations & Games 2009.                 

 

 

Upate to Call for Proposals schedule

January 31, 2009 by Chris Lupton (not verified), 39 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 22

Thank you so much for putting on this event, LSS folks! I appreciated being included. My favorite part of my job is listening to faculty who love teaching talk about it.

We've clarified the Simulations & Games Round 2 schedule on the Engage webpage, and I wanted to update it in my above note, too.

Stage 1: Initial Idea - Jan. 13 - Feb. 16, 2009 @12:00 noon
Stage 2: Two-Page Preliminary Proposal - Feb. 17 - March 31, 2009
* Invited proposals announced - May 29, 2009
Stage 3: Full Proposal - July 1 - July 31, 2009
* Awardees announced - Sept. 1, 2009
Stage 4: Design and Development - Sept. 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010

add new comment link

January 29, 2009 by Visitor (not verified), 40 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 19

Ah HA!

I didn't know where the add new comment link was earlier! I'm very pleased to hear this session is being videorecorded!

 

Thanks, and sorry to cut out early!

January 29, 2009 by Andrew Irving (not verified), 40 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 20

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick note to say thanks for coming and to offer my appologies for having to cut out early (I had a make-up test to give at 4pm). 

If you're interested in Second Life, I'm no expert but I'd be glad to show you around. Also, once in Second Life, there are many people (virtual people that is) who are happy to mentor new-comers.  To find your Second Life Community Volunteer, start here:  http://secondlife.com/community/volunteer.php

Merci!

Andrew Irving

Education Support Faire in 2L

January 30, 2009 by Doug Worsham, 40 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 21

A quick note to say that our workshop coincided with a weeklong education support faire in Second Life. The event ends today, but the Support Faire page on the 2L wiki provides a good list of resources and information, including presentation abstracts, and links to discussions on the presenter's blogs.

Here's the abstract for today's event:

Friday, January 30, 2009

4:00pm Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education 2009 SL Conference (PPS) - Faire (33, 143, 35)
Presenter: Phelan Corrimal
Abstract: From March 27th to March 29th, 2009 - the education community of Second Life will be hosting a 3 day conference on best practices in education. This conference will promote the best and brightest from the Second Life education community in various fields of practice including everything from demonstrations to hands on theory.

interesting post, thanks

October 28, 2009 by bukmacher (not verified), 1 week 2 days ago
Comment id: 256

interesting post, thanks

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