Games in Education 2014

If a game is assigned as homework, is it still a game? When does using games in the classroom make the games lose their fun value? Can games teach standards? Or even better, do standards allow for effective use of games in the classroom? Game-based learning principles embody what we know to be good learning environments, yet are often inconsistent with standards and a standardized-testing based system. This talk will explore what makes a game engaging and good for learning, what is the aim of introducing a standards-based schooling system, and whether standards and games can ever get along. This talk will not be a critique of our current Common Core standards or of current schools, but of the idea of standards as a whole. Whether you are new to games and intrigued by their potential or a long-time gamer wondering why games are so much more fun than school, come join this conversation about the challenges to integrating games, schools, and standards.