OFFICIAL SESSION NAME: (10:30am)
“Engage, Empower Students with 21st Century Skills” – Susan Meeks, Breakaway Games
SUMMARY:
The speaker covered some problems in the current education system(s), it’s antiquated goals, and the incomplete theories that form its foundation. Also covered several new inventions and innovative ideas for reform.
ECAMPUS TAKEAWAY:
While there are two must-see videos about the current American school system, I think the most interesting aspect of this talk was: the weird reactions (especially, the things it made me think about – zany brainstorms included below).
The question at the end (about presenting our long term assessment metrics to upper management, in a useful manner) struck me as one of the more profound takeaways of the whole conference.
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OFFICIAL SESSION NAME: (9am)
“The Role of Assessment”
- Alex Games (Education Design Director, Microsoft), Zoran Popovic (Associate Professor, University of Washington), James Portnow (CEO, Rainmaker Games), Bob Dolan (Senior Research Scientist, Pearson)
SUMMARY:
Some really insightful thoughts on how to assess the effectiveness of any education.
ECAMPUS TAKEAWAY:
several useful quotes from some smart speakers (thinking of education as a process instead of a product, to the ideas around how games can assess for the rest of your life to… much more).
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OFFICIAL SESSION NAME: (11:30am)
Techniques for Achieving an Effective Blend Between Engagement and Learning in Games
- Talib Hussain, Raytheon BBN Technologies
SUMMARY/ECAMPUS TAKEAWAY:
Some interesting thoughts on the importance of making the exercise fun, while also allowing room for the pain and suffering struggle that you need for proper learning. Ultimately my notes aren’t very good though.
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Official Session Name: (10:30am)
US Game-based Learning Market Forecast: All Roads Lead to Mobile
- Sam Adkins (Chief Research Officer, Ambient Insight)
Summary:
At first I thought I went to the wrong session (this was a last minute room change. and initial talk was more about “money making” reality than “education effectiveness” reality). But there turned out to be some interesting analysis, and much food for thought (including several interesting apps and consumer learning products I’d never never heard of).
Ecampus Takeaway:
Some interesting discussion of tablets and asian markets, interesting links, and ideas for mobile apps we should make.
Raw Notes: Read the rest of this entry »
Official Session Name: (9am)
Platforms: options and decisions
Summary:
round table discussion of the platforms for software development. (not that useful a session, really).
Ecampus Takeaway:
Instead of listening too closely to industry analysts (thbbt), I think we need to start thinking about: how to communicate across ALL platforms, How to record useful stats from each platform, And security.
Raw Notes: Read the rest of this entry »
Official Session Name: (4pm)
Game mechanics used for learning – Douglas Whatley (CEO Breakaway)
Summary:
Really interesting talk – exploring how “game mechanics” themselves can (and should) affect the player.
Ecampus Takeaway:
This session really nailed the idea that the ever-popular “jeopardy trivia game” is just a damned training exercise. It doesn’t involve true “learning,” and isn’t really a game! (Boom!)
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Official Session Name: (2:30pm)
“How to Create an Effective Sim/Game Strategy”
Summary:
Christopher Hardy, a repected dude from Defense Acquisition University (DAU), talks about what they’ve learned. How they are much like corporate training (for many US Government agencies). Key difference is: Their students HAVE to take and pass their classes. … much more…
Ecampus Takeaway:
“Have a use case. Don’t build a game where all they learn is the game.” (and much more… this talk was gold)
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Official Session Name: (1:30)
B-HIVE: A Human Behavioral Definition Simulation Environment
Summary:
The guy who created DigiPen basically tells his life story (which is damned cool, honestly), rambled slightly about cool work he’s done for various government agencies, then talked about machine learning project he’s pioneered.
Ecampus Takeaway:
“Have the student make the game – that is the way to teach them”
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Official Session Name: (11:30am)
Strategicplay® with LEGO® Serious Play®
Summary / Ecampus Takeaway:
We were given bags of LEGOs, and went through some exercises to show us how using your hands can help anyone with thinking and communication. (mostly bizarrely worthless to me. but led to a good quick chat with a neighbor, who suggested many cool projects/links)
Session was basically being a big advertisement for their wacky consultant service(ugh), but got good leads accidentally from neighbor.
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Official Session Name: (10:30am)
Panel: “From Slate to Chalk to Tablets and Apps”
Summary / Ecampus Takeaway:
The conference really gets started, with some great discussion of the real world state of educational gaming (with some specific examples/links).
Raw Notes: Read the rest of this entry »
