GameProf

Real-World Impact and Educational Games Festival

Axle — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:51:24 +0000

Come check out the Teachers College Real-World Impact and Educational Games Festival, held April 25, 2012 from 4-8 pm at 525 W 120 St., First Floor, Everett Lounge. Over a dozen playable game-based research and design projects will be presented, including games addressing climate change, ethics, nutrition, math, science and language learning. Pizza and prizes! Open to the public.

Research projects

Axle — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:55:20 +0000

I recently gave a talk at Teachers College, Columbia University highlighting my current research projects: (1) Science City Heroes, (2) Greenify, (3) Scholar’s Quest: The Gamification of Grad School Project, and (4) the Identity Supportive Games Project.

Click here to download the presentation.

“Science City Heroes” Game Motivates Kids to Learn Science

Axle — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:04:27 +0000

Scholar’s Quest: Science City Heroes is a gamification-based experience that leverages some of the most powerful features of social games and applies them to science classrooms as part of an ongoing experience that gets students more engaged and invested in their learning. I am working with Science Education faculty Dr. Christopher Emdin and Dr. Jenny Ingber to improve the educational outcomes of low performing predominantly Latino-American and African-American students in NYC public schools. This project explores how gamification may be an effective approach in addressing significant challenges facing education: low student motivation and engagement to learn (Bridgeland, Dilulio, & Morison, 2006), the lack of positive academic identities, insufficient feedback and tailored individualized instruction, and strategies for managing behavior. I designed and studied the impact of Science City Heroes as a game layer experience applied over existing science curriculum in which students had the opportunity to earn three kinds of collectible and playable cards: (1) red “Science Victory” cards titled Creativity, Curiosity, Analytical Thinking, Persistence and Evidence, given when students exhibit these traits based on National Research Council (NRC) science standards; (2) green “Success” cards to promote positive academic behaviors and identities, and (3) blue “Action” cards that students can give each other to promote teamwork, collaboration, strategy and goal-setting behavior.

Students were organized into two teams and used cards to purchase and upgrade a virtual city, with city elements (buildings, vehicles, and parks) symbolic of real-world experiences and accomplishments. Students were recognized for various real-world achievements, employed various strategies to build their city, and received feedback about the progress they made as they earned and played the cards.

Scholar’s Quest: The Gamification of Education project

Axle — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:20:29 +0000

What happens when game-like elements and game mechanics are applied to education?

Scholar’s Quest is a research and design project directed by Dr. Joey J. Lee that explores what happens Students become players in a “game layer” applied over real-world activities and academic experiences; they earn experience points in the five categories of research, writing, teaching, interpersonal and skill. Students earn badges and rewards, set goals, and play action cards in a collaborative and competitive experience. For more information, visit http://www.GamifyingEducation.org/

To help with the design, development, or research associated with this project, contact me. If you are a student and would like to join as a player, you can also contact me.

Gamifying Education

Axle — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 04:39:58 +0000

I’ve launched a new site called Gamifying Education (GamifyingEducation.org). It’s a website with articles, scholarly papers, useful tools, and other resources related to gamification — the use of game-like thinking and elements in places that aren’t traditionally games. GamifyingEducation.org also features social networking features, a forum, and other valuable features. On the site you can also find out more information about our research project entitled Scholar’s Quest — an exciting project that explores the impact of game-like thinking to both K12 and Higher Education settings. Join in on the conversation and create an account!

TC Student Wins Prize for Geometry Game

Axle — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:27:25 +0000

Dr. Jan Plass of NYU presents award to Kar Hwee Koh, TC student

Master’s Candidate Kar Hwee Koh won 4th prize at the Games for Learning Institute (G4LI) Game Design Competition for her geometry game, Boom Boom Pirates! For more information about her game, see the webpage about the game. Excellent job and congratulations on a well deserved award!

Pirate Angles

Axle — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:30:24 +0000

A simple game for children to learn about angles. Find the correct angle to defeat the pirates!

Created by Kar Hwee Koh for Dr. Lee’s MSTU 5003 course (Theory and Programming of Interactive Media I)

Play it below:

Screenshots:

Cannons! Ninjas! Educational Games

JLee — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:02:42 +0000

The students in Teachers College’s Theory and Programming of Interactive Media course (MSTU 5003) created digital games and playful experiences to teach content such as division, geometry, nutrition, and the solar system.

Click here to view more information about their projects — including playable game demos!

Morphing Masterpieces

JLee — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:58:32 +0000

Created by: Erica Kantor, Allison Martin, Pauline Lee, Dan Rencricca

Morphing Masterpieces is an interactive game with the purpose of several players jointly creating an artistic picture using a limited number of shapes they are given at random. Although one picture is being created, each player is actually attempting to make the picture look like the object he or she has selected from the object card deck. The primary goal of Morphing Masterpieces is to allow players to use their creativity and imagination in producing a work of art within the context of a competitive game. Furthermore, the game is intended to foster creativity in players and show that anyone can be creative. We also believe it provides a mechanism for improving one’s self-perception of their artistic talent, as measured before and after playing the game.

For more information about the latest developments of this game, go to http://morphingmasterpieces.wordpress.com/

Ninja Bucket: A Game About Division

JLee — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:33:49 +0000

Designed to help teach players about the conceptual foundations of division, the goal of the game is to defeat groups of ninjas by dragging and dropping them into buckets. Divide evenly to conquer!

Created by Tanner Vea for Dr. Lee’s MSTU 5003 course (Theory and Programming of Interactive Media I)

Play it below:

Screenshots:

For the latest version, go to: http://www.columbia.edu/~thv2103/ninja-bucket.html