... a technology update & student synthesis
Five W's
What is it?
Why is it?
Who is it?
Where is it?
When is it?
Digging In
Quiz Chair
Chatcast
Classroom
Login Zone
Toolbar
Sloodle Box
Evaluation
Middleware
Modification
Learning Paths
Sim Hosted
Possibilities
LMS in-world
Learning objects
Game elements
Avatar tracking
Cyber-assistance
In "Learning by Doing", Clark Aldrich defines game elements as critical to learning in conjunction with simulation elements and sound pedagogy. In fact, Aldrich describes game elements as "the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down" and comments that he tends to apply game elements most heavily when students are not particularly motivated to learn (Aldrich, 2005).
That being said, Sloodle already has one game-based element nearing release in Quiz Chair. What other kinds of game-based elements might the Sloodle team consider moving forward? Here are a few ideas... food for thought.
| Format | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Flash Cards | Similar to a Quiz Chair experience, but group based activity in which class sits in a circle on Quiz Chairs. They shuttle through questions until exhausting their deck. Best time wins. Possibilities for in-world high score/best time. |
| Hangman-style | Mouse-driven version of hangman where letters are selected from a HUD. Puzzle content, clues and feedback are "read in" from LMS. | |
| Jeopardy-style | Tiered-value multiple choice game, all content pulled from LMS, playable individually or multiplayer. Possibilities for in-world high score. | |
| Non-traditional | Interactive-bot | Simulate customer service situations using cyber assistants. Interaction path, responses, feedback would all be "read in" from LMS, allowing Interactive-Bot to be plugged into multiple situations or run concurrently in-world |
| Hunt & Gather | Essentially a scavenger hunt in-world, allowing students to use any navigation means necessary to find learning content, prepare for and take assessment. Game most effective when focus is on journey and important content is interwoven via integrated design methods. | |
| Pack Rat | Collect as many of a certain type or group of items as possible within a time limit. Example of this could be to have students navigate through objects illustrated at periodic element "cubes" and collect only specific categories, for example Rare Earth Metals, or Transition Metals. When correct objects are taken, points are added. When incorrect objects are taken, points are lost. |