Dave McDivitt

One thing my school has been mulling over is the possible banishment of ipods and other mp3 players.  Students love to listen to them in study hall, lunch, the hall during passing period, and in class when teachers give the okay.  Some of the concerns are valid.  Students listening to their ipod during passing period may not hear announcements over the PA or worst case, they may not hear a fire alarm or tornado alarm.  I guess the hundreds of people running from the building or for cover wouldn't be a clue….but I digress…….I don't understnad why schools are so difficult to accept new technology.  Two years ago no one cared if a kid brought a portable cd player to school.  But ipods…..good night……this could end the educational process.  I am going to write a proposal for a grant for 25 grand.  I want to turn my social studies room into a a social studies room with laptops.  I know some people will think my mother dropped me on my head when I was a baby…….several times…….but I have to step up to the plate and swing for the fence.  Even a fat, bald, 30 something year old guy will hit a grand slam occasionally…just ask Barry Bonds.  I will just have to do it with out the juice.

The March issue of NEA Today had a nice article about technology in the classroom.  The April issue just arrived in my mailbox.  Many letters were sent in and published about the article most were supportive of the idea of expanding the use of technology but read the following about what we still have to over come

     "Obsolescence comes out of the box as fast as the new thing.  Learning gadgetry will not prepare our students for the future.  We must teach them to be creative, discerning, original, independent, and powerful thinkers.  The emphasis on classroom use of PDAs, computers, cell phones, and educational gaming is teaching our children a lesson–learned helplessness.  We cannot allow children to turn their brains into butterscotch pudding as they sit hunched over their latest, greatest, new thing." 

I wonder if Einstein would still use a slide rule?

Right now one of the things I am working on is getting some pre test and post testing options available.  I want the hard data to present to people who are interested in using games.  I almost want to keep one of my classes from the experience of playing the game and pre and post test them as well.  However, I don’t think I could survive the social pressure of a bunch of upset teenagers because all of their friends got to play a computer game and a select few did not.  I think the remaining weeks of school would be a bit cold.

Spring Break has arrived at Oak Hill but my preperation for using Making History is going strong.  In two weeks our game play will begin.  Muzzy Lane has sent me a copy of some of their latest updates to the game.  As of right now my plan is to use the scenarios of “The Politics of Appeasement” and “The Limits of Peace.”  Overall, we should be playing the game for 5 school days or so.  My classes have seen the game and I have told them about it, especially due to my trip to San Jose to speak at the Serious Game Summit at GDC.  Just like last year, I have a good number of excited kids to play a computer game with the teachers blessing.  It is fun to dangle the carrot out there to keep kids focused a bit.

Here is my presentation from the GDC conference in San Jose, California.   I believe the presentation went very well.  I have already heard from several contacts that I made after the presentaion was over.  It certainly seems like momentum is gaining for this avenue.

Just seems like I should start by telling this story.  I visited NCSS in Baltimore in 2004 and I met Nick deKanter from Muzzy Lane.  Muzzy Lane was in the final stages of development of a history simulation, Making History, targeted for high schools and university level students.  They asked me to take part in the beta testing of the game with my classes.  I obviously accepted the offer.  Since then I have been working with Muzzy Lane and my classes using the software.  The experience has been incredible.  I will post several links to stories that have been published about the experience.  Much to my surprise, I seemed to be on the cutting edge of using games in the classroom.  The excitement that I have for use of games is not shared by all educators.  Change is difficult but it can certainly be good.  Since the intial testing of the game, Muzzy Lane has continued to refine and polish the game and it keeps getting better.  I have also been a speaker at GLS in Madison Wisconsin in the summer of 2005 and I recently returned from speaking at Serious Games Summit @ GDC in San Jose California.  Through these experiences I have met a tremendous amount of exciting people that are involved in various projects.  The future looks exciting.

http://www.miamicountylife.com/articles/2005/11/18/local_news/local67.txt

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=5862

http://www.muzzylane.com/news/detail.php?id=52

At the encouragement of fellow colleagues I have decided to start a blog about my experiences of using computer gaming in the classroom.  I hope this forum can be helpful in encouraging classroom teachers to explore the rich and exciting nature of gaming in the classroom.