Want to learn more about game-based learning, but you’re overwhelmed with all of the information out on the internet? Or maybe you’re a seasoned enthusiast, looking to refresh your perspective or re-ignite your passion for game-based learning? Either way, look no further! We’ve distilled some of the latest and greatest serious game-related news, books, podcasts, and more into this resource round-up. You can find what you’re looking for whenever you need it, and get right in to learning more about game-based learning now!
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In this round-up of the freshest game-based learning news, you can learn about how VR is changing healthcare for patients and medical professionals, how AI is assisting students with disabilities and improving DEI training and company culture, and more! If you’ve ever wondered how AR might be used on the job, or what VR might look like in the classrooms of the future, check out April’s installment of What’s New in Game-based Learning.
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Thanks to the internet, there are so many ways to learn about just about everything. From (ahem) blog posts to YouTube videos to news articles, anything you want to know about educational games is at your fingertips. That said, the online world moves quickly, and if you need a break from screens and keyboards but not from the transformative power of playful learning, these new game-based learning books will do the trick! This particular round-up of game-based learning literature contains new releases you can get your hands on today, as well as some highly-anticipated titles coming out later this year – which gives us all something to look forward to!
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Think commercial entertainment games have no educational value? Think again! While nothing tops the learning games where educational content is integrated seamlessly with game mechanics, high-quality commercial games often have more educational value than meets the eye. Popular commercial games such as the Civilization and Assassin’s Creed series not only immerse their players in different time periods but allow for critical thinking about historical events. In games where creativity and teamwork are at the forefront, like in the LittleBigPlanet and Portal series, players have many opportunities to learn collaboration and content creation skills, among others. The list goes on – prepare to change the way you think about commercial gaming!
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Want to learn more about game-based learning in a pinch? These motivating, thought-provoking TED Talks are all under 20 minutes (some of them are under 10!). Despite being compact, they’re full of substantial, innovative ideas to kickstart an assortment of conversations surrounding technology and education. If you’re a loyal reader of the Filament Games blog, you already know the power of video games as tools for learning. The subjects of the TED Talks on this list aren’t just limited to educational video games in the classroom, but also the broader landscape of edtech, including AR, VR, and esports! What could be better than learning something new and then feeling inspired afterward? Also, if you want to watch even more game-based learning and edtech TED Talks, we have you covered.
Looking to learn more about excellent educational game design? In this blog post, our Chief Creative Officer Dan Norton discusses how to identify learning objectives and put them into one of three categories: identities, verbs, and systems. Dan explains how categorizing learning objectives can help a designer align their game mechanics with said objectives. Through examples of our own games – like Beats Empire, Saving Lives!, RoboSellers, and more – you can learn how to make a positive impression and impact on your game’s audience.
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If you’re reading this, chances are you love all things edtech, robotics, STEM, and beyond! If you want to learn more about your favorite subjects directly from experts, educators, and enthusiasts, we have just the resource: a list of 10 incredible podcasts! Listen and learn about the education revolution we need with the EduFuturists, or spend an hour or two with the Let’s talk robotics podcast to discover how robots are affecting our everyday lives. New to edtech? There’s a podcast for that too – the Easy EdTech Podcast with Dr. Monica Burns can answer all of your edtech questions. There’s more where that came from – pop on some headphones and check out the list above to dive in!
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It’s one thing to learn about game-based learning, and another to experience it! Last but certainly not least, see game-based learning in action by playing an educational game yourself, or by bringing it into your classroom. This list contains completely free and compulsively playable games on a variety of subjects. Students of all ages can enjoy learning about history and civics with iCivics’s Convene the Council and Annenberg Classroom’s That’s Your Right!. Looking for a game that fits into your science curriculum? Frolic with dinosaurs in the Field Museum’s Mission to the Mesozoic, or the Science Education Center, which includes six unique games we created with the Smithsonian. Discover high-quality games that you, your kids, or your students can play right now in a web browser!
Happy learning (and gaming!), Filamentarians! Let us know what you thought of this round-up of resources on Facebook or Twitter. If any of the information here has inspired you to create an educational game of your own, reach out to us for a free consultation – we’d love to help bring your vision to life.
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