Game Based Learning!

Earlier this week when we discussed the rise of game based learning in the education world, I was fascinated. After looking more in depth at these ideas I continue to love the results and the students it is reaching.

The first game based learning link I looked at was a Macro game case study. I read about Kate Fanelli and how she has turned her math class into a game and provided engagement and student learning for at risk children. Her school accepts students that struggle with intense emotional issues that cause manifestation of emotions through work avoidance, school avoidance, acting out in class, reluctance to work without aid, and poor relationship skills. Ms. Fanelli has learned that game based learning has combated some of these negative manifestations and engaged these at risk children in a way that provides them the same educational opportunities as students with stable emotional background. She has the students work through her course "Mathland" with a lesson with step by step instruction, a practice problem section, and finally a mastery test. All students must work through the 20 levels with each of these three sub levels of work. This game provides students with the ability to actively participate in their own learning and try again if they don't succeed the first time and results in more success than failure. Her first year of implementing this program Mathland students had a 17% improvement in statewide assessment. This model is amazing and I love that it is reaching the students that truly deserve to learn and enjoy their successes.

The second game based learning link that I researched was the Question to Learn site. I love the idea of the game based learning being the foundation of the school. This develops the exact skills that students need to be prepared for in our world today such as problem solving and higher order thinking skills. In looking through their curriculum they had each grade separated 6-12 and their courses were separated into domains such as "Being, Space, and Place" that looks at social studies and English language arts or "The Way Things Work" that studies math and science. The link between the subjects provides students a more realistic way to look at learning and a more realistic functioning of the world itself. Our daily activities are not broken down into Spanish class or Algebra, but instead a combination of all subjects often at the same time. Also another aspect of the school that I really loved was that they had specific future careers that the school could point out their students would have the potential to go into after completing each grade and the multiple domains within. Some of these included: learning scientist, inventor, economist, engineer, political strategist, writer, international relations, and a judge. All of these  fields are exceptional and fields in which our students will have many opportunities to fill in the future.

Overall, these links have provided more information that furthers my curiosity and love for the idea of making learning game based. I think that it engages the students, links the reality of their future to the skills they need for that future, and allows them to most importantly LEARN! What else could be more important?