Games in Education 2014

From Oregon Trail to Second Life to World of Warcraft, the evolution of digital game and socialization spaces as classrooms continues to dazzle and delight some while frightening and concerning others. This panel game-based learning expert educators, moderated by Dr. Chris Haskell from Boise State University, will look into the future of these spaces and attempt to describe the classroom of 2023. Panelists to include Peg Sheehy (WoW is schools), Lucas Gillespie (Minecraft is Schools), Andrew Miller (@betamiller), Marianne Malmstrom (Atlantis Rising), and others.

Session Learning Outcomes
As gaming spaces become ubiquitous, we move into them for the purpose of learning. Perhaps this is because the educators enjoy the rush, the students enjoyed the digital frontiers, or maybe, just maybe, they serve as effective digital learning spaces. This panel discussion will unpack what makes these spaces so valuable and what they may look like in the future.
- What are the platforms that are likely to stick around or emerge?
- What changes in the Internet, mobile Internet, and consoles will mean for teaching and learning and digital spaces?
- How can teachers identify, learn about, and inhabit the digital game-spaces of the future?

A group of Minecraft and education enthusiasts will describe our experience developing informal STEM curriculum using MinecraftEDU to teach subjects such as mechanics (physics), computer programming, art history, writing, logic, history, and math through architecture.

Our program serves students in the Albany School District during the school year and camp attendees from around the capital district in the summer.

The panel will include curriculum developers, project leaders, and teen mentors from our informal STEAM program at Siena College.