Barnes & Noble Presentation Resources: Learning Games

Posted by Karl Kapp on October 14, 2014

Last night, I spoke at a Barnes and Noble in New Brunswick, NJ. Ii was exciting to talk to a number of teachers and parents about some of the positive impacts video games can have on learning. Great questions from the group and very thoughtful bunch of educators and parents. I really enjoyed our discussions.

Gr8 time at Barnes & Noble last night.

As part of that process, here are some links to educational games and other assorted resources.

Game to Teach STEM

Below is a link to Survival Master Winter. A game that teaches Science, Technology, Engineering and Math concepts related to energy and hits many next generation science standards.

Survival Master Home Page.

Winter Shelter is a unique learning concept that combines two powerful learning tools to create a flexible and efficient curriculum. Designed with input from teachers, middle school students and parents, The Winter Shelter curriculum contains something for everyone.

Based on seven years of research and development, the curriculum combines the best of video game-based learning with the best of hands-on learning to provide a learning curriculum for any student and any educational setting.

CHECK OUT THE GAME HERE.

Link to Course on Gamification

If you are a Lynda.com subscriber, you can check out a new course I just wrote called “Gamification of Learning” for Lynda.com. If you are not a subscriber (or your school district isn’t) you can get a free seven day trial here at this link.

Effective and fun game to teach basic multiplication tables (plus addition, subtraction, division)

Timez Attack

Here are games that can help with teaching algebra and math to students…

1) One of my favorites is DragonBox. It is a multi-platform game that starts out as a card game and then morphs into teaching algebra. Easy to play, easy to get started and does a wonderful job of teaching the fundamental concepts of algebra. The game was voted world’s best serious game at the International Mobile Gaming Awards(IMGA).

And during a Washington State Algebra Challenge, it took on average 41 minutes and 44 seconds for students to master Algebra skills using this game.

2) If you want more of a classroom game, check out Cool Math’s Survivor Algebra. The game is like the TV show survivor. You set up tribes, challenges and then let the students do algebra. The Cool Math web site contains a complete set of rules and walks you step-by-step through the process. A great non-digital game.

3) Applying Algebra to real-life is sometimes tricky. Over at Edheads.org, they’ve created a great real-world application with their simulation of a crash scene called Crash Scene Investigation. In this activity, you must figure out what car caused the accident by calculating estimated speed and estimating forces. It is about a 70 minute activity but can encompass many algebra-related concepts.

4) The company DimensionU has a number of math and algebra games based on a first-person “thinker” experience. One of the games is a single player game where a bio-digital virus has been released on a remote island and threatens to infect the world’s eco-system and destroy mankind. The learner has to join forces in a race to disengage the virus and restore the island to its natural environment.

Here is a video.

5) Western Illinois has gathered a few games to help teach algebra at their site Algebra Online Math Games Mostly a collection of quick short games focused on a specific concept in algebra. Very helpful.

Bonus: Khan Academy has badges and gamification for learning Algebra and other subjects and earn badges as you go and demonstrating master and knowledge of basic to more advanced concepts. Here is a link to the algebra section of Kahn Academy.

If you are interested in math or algebra resources, here are some you might want to check out.

Illuminations: Resources for Teaching Math

Algebra Calculators Guide: 144 Calculators Separated by Skill Level and Type

Algebra Boot Camp – Learn Algebra, Step by Step

Games Related to Energy

Here is one called Energy Hogs.

Here is a game called EnergyVille by Chevron, played like SimCity games.

This game is still available but not on its original site. It’s called Particle Pro.

Additional List of Games

The Grading Game
Win the Whitehouse
eLECTIONS: Your Adventure in Politics
Quandry Game
Research Ethics
Lord of the Flies Game
English as a Second Language
Immune Attack
Dreambox has a great tool for teaching math using adaptive learning. Check it out.
Classcraft This is an educational role-playing game that teachers and students play together in the classroom. By using many of the conventions traditionally found in games today, students can level up, work in teams, and earn powers that have real-world consequences. Acting as a gamification layer around any existing curriculum, the game transforms the way a class is experienced throughout the school year.
Chorewars Role-playing type game for doing household chores
Zombies, Run! Game to work on exercise–specifically running.
Chemistry game called Chemul ikThe goal is to create molecules using all of the atoms floating in the game screen. There are six types of atoms and they all have different amounts of “Valence” (combining power), ranging from 1 to 6 in strength.Commercial Games that have Been Used in Education
Age of Empires (history)
Here is a great story on the subject.
Minecraft
Oregon Trail (oldie but a goodie)
Myst Here is a great list for anyone thinking of using Myst in the classroom here.