Using Video Games to Level Up Collaboration for Students


Book Description

Using Video Games to Level Up Collaboration for Students provides a research-informed, systematic approach for using cooperative multiplayer video games as tools for teaching collaborative social skills and building social connections. Video games have become an ingrained part of our culture, and many teachers, school leaders and allied health professionals are exploring ways to harness digital games–based learning in their schools and settings. At the same time, collaborative skills and social inclusion have never been more important for our children and young adults. Taking a practical approach to supporting a range of learners, this book provides a three-stage system that guides professionals with all levels of gaming experience through skill instruction, supported play and guided reflection. A range of scaffolds and resources support the implementation of this program in primary and secondary classrooms and private clinics. Complementing this intervention design are a set of principles of game design that assist in the selection of games for use with this program, which assists with the selection of existing games or the design of future games for use with this program. Whether you are a novice or an experienced gamer, Level Up Collaboration provides educators with an innovative approach to ensuring that children and young adults can develop the collaborative social skills essential for thriving in their communities. By using an area of interest and strength for many individuals experiencing challenges with developing friendships and collaborative social skills, this intervention program will help your school or setting to level up social outcomes for all participants.




What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Second Edition


Book Description

Cognitive Development in a Digital Age James Paul Gee begins his classic book with "I want to talk about video games–yes, even violent video games–and say some positive things about them." With this simple but explosive statement, one of America's most well-respected educators looks seriously at the good that can come from playing video games. This revised edition expands beyond mere gaming, introducing readers to fresh perspectives based on games like World of Warcraft and Half-Life 2. It delves deeper into cognitive development, discussing how video games can shape our understanding of the world. An undisputed must-read for those interested in the intersection of education, technology, and pop culture, What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy challenges traditional norms, examines the educational potential of video games, and opens up a discussion on the far-reaching impacts of this ubiquitous aspect of modern life.




Teaching Coding in K-12 Schools


Book Description

This book contains highly effective ways to teach coding and computational thinking skills throughout primary and secondary schooling. It outlines a research informed path for students from birth to 18 years, identifying key skills and learning activities. Based on global perspectives and research at each stage, it outlines how these findings can be applied in the classroom. Teaching coding to students in K-12 has been a skillset that has been debated across educational jurisdictions globally for some time. The book provides examples of schools that are teaching coding to students in engaging and relevant ways, delivering well thought out compulsory curriculums. Additionally, it provides examples of schools where coding is not mandated in the curriculum and is taught in an ad-hoc manner. Through the full discussion of all of these varied examples, the book presents both sides of the serious and ongoing debate in the field as to whether coding should be taught in an explicit way at all. The increasing school of thought that teaching coding is a skill that is already obsolete, and the focus should be on computational thinking is completely examined and presented. In this book, both sides of the argument, as well as the specific, meticulous research underlying each side, are given equal weight. The debate is a serious one and requires a clearly defined thematic response with evidence on all sides of the argument presented rationally. This book does just that. Created by carefully selected authors from around the world, it will be a highly studied research reference.




Press B to Belong


Book Description

Positioning esports programs as spaces for social inclusion within our schools, this work provides educators with practical strategies for removing barriers to participation and belonging for students with disabilities and neurological differences to make school a place where all students want to be.




Innovations in Teacher Development, Personalized Learning, and Upskilling the Workforce


Book Description

The time has come to refine the education ecosystem in such a way that it generates wealth-creating careers, personalized learning, and upskilling for all types of employment opportunities so that the current and next generation of the world can find long-term social stability, sound mental health, and financial agility. From an educator’s point of view, this is possible through high-quality education that is relevant to a particular society and effective educational policies that promote a culture of innovation, encourage risk-taking, and continuously monitor productivity through the training and development of teachers. Innovations in Teacher Development, Personalized Learning, and Upskilling the Workforce disseminates the best practices on high-quality education, teaching training, teacher/student entrepreneurship, and wealth-generating careers. It presents information on refining education through teacher development sessions and training. Covering topics such as capacity building, personalized learning, and teacher trainee development, this book is an excellent resource for educators and administrators of K-12 and higher education, academic advisors, preservice teachers, teacher educators, policymakers, librarians, researchers, and academicians.




Digital Learning and Collaborative Practices


Book Description

• Outlines a holistic, evidence-based mindset shift for designing and implementing technology-rich learning experiences that are attentive to social concerns such as equity, ethics, play, diversity, and democratic participation. • Driven by a balance of theoretical and methodological chapters with grounded empirical bases. • Concludes with a future-focused discussion about upcoming digital competencies and the implications of applying design-oriented approaches to digital learning practices.




Trapped in a Video Game


Book Description

Jesse Rigsby hates video games—and for good reason. You see, a video game character is trying to kill him. After getting sucked in the new game Full Blast with his friend Eric, Jesse starts to see the appeal of vaporizing man-size praying mantis while cruising around by jet pack. But pretty soon, a mysterious figure begins following Eric and Jesse, and they discover they can't leave the game. If they don't figure out what's going on fast, they'll be trapped for good! With black-and-white illustrations throughout and a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter, this is a great series for kids who think they don’t like to read!




Extra Lives


Book Description

In Extra Lives, acclaimed writer and life-long video game enthusiast Tom Bissell takes the reader on an insightful and entertaining tour of the art and meaning of video games. In just a few decades, video games have grown increasingly complex and sophisticated, and the companies that produce them are now among the most profitable in the entertainment industry. Yet few outside this world have thought deeply about how these games work, why they are so appealing, and what they are capable of artistically. Blending memoir, criticism, and first-rate reportage, Extra Lives is a milestone work about what might be the dominant popular art form of our time.




Dialogic Pedagogy


Book Description

Taking a dialogic approach, this edited book engages in analysis and description of dialogic discourse in a number of different educational contexts, from early childhood to tertiary, with an international team of contributors from Australia, Finland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The chapters focus mostly on dialogic face-to-face discourse, with some examples of online interactions, and feature insights from educational linguistics, particularly the work of Michael Halliday. While the contributors come from a range of theoretical backgrounds, they all share an interest in language in use and engage in close analysis of transcripts of naturally-occurring interaction. Taking inspiration from Alexander and other theorists, they employ a fine-grained and analytic approach to the exploration of their data. The authors make use of the linguistic tools and models of language in society, in order to examine the turn-by-turn unfolding of the interaction. The authors relate their insights from disparate forms of linguistic analysis to elements of Alexander’s (2020) dialogic framework, situating the discourse in its contexts and discussing the pedagogical implications of the linguistic choices at play. In presenting this work from a range of situations and perspectives, the authors strive to demonstrate how dialogic discourse plays out in educational contexts across the world. The book aims to foster further research in this direction and to inspire educators to explore dialogic discourse for themselves. It will be of interest to a wide audience, including literacy researchers, linguists, teachers and teacher educators, as well as graduate students.




Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design


Book Description

"Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design" is the ultimate handbook for gamers of all levels. Whether you're a casual player or a seasoned pro, this book has something for everyone. With detailed guides on popular games, tips and tricks to improve your skills, and insights into the gaming industry, you'll be able to take your gaming to the next level. Learn how to master your favorite games with step-by-step instructions and expert advice. Discover new games and genres to explore, and get insider knowledge on the latest gaming trends. From PC to console to mobile gaming, this book covers it all. But "Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design" isn't just about playing games – it's also about building a community around your passion. Find out how to connect with other gamers, join online communities, and even start your own gaming channel or stream. Packed with valuable information and entertaining anecdotes, "Guide to Gaming" is a must-read for anyone who loves gaming.