Gaming at the Library

GAMING AT THE LIBRARY!

The Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg is has developed a gaming program and has recently established a space at SecondLife for Teens. (For more information, see my post on the TechPsych blog.)

The PLCMC offers teen gaming events at various libraries throughout the county, and a Gaming Zone for all ages at the main library's Virtual Village. The library has a set of new AlienWare laptop computers, used for LAN parties:

more pictures of the Game Zone program

Comment:

I'd like to see the library purchase Dimenxian, a 3D game that teaches Algebra. It has multiplayer capabilities, so it would be great on the new AlienWare LAN system. For more information, see the Tabula Digita site.


ImaginOn, the children and teen's main library, offers many opportunities that involve technology, including a video production studio, Studio i. The library offers workshops such as " Take Photos for Your Webpage" , "Make MySpace Photos Come to Life", and events such as a Dance Dance Revolution tournament, Family Gaming Night, and video game club meetings.

If you don't know what is going on at the library these days, I urge you to find out! Share this information with parents, colleagues, and the young people in your life.

-Lynn

Take a look at the posts on the Tech Psych blog!

I've posted a few links to good articles and websites related to multimedia and educational technology on the TechPsych blog. Take a look!

-Lynn Marentette

Click here to visit John Kirriemuir's blog about games and learning.

Take the time to visit John Kirriemuir's blog, SilverSprite. He is a self-employed researcher and consultant who specializes in the use of technologies to support education and learning. His blog provides good resources for educators who are interested in using games and learning, especially through "Commercial Off the Shelf" games that can be easily adapted to the curriculum.

Here is a description of Kirriemuir's blog:

"Examples of COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) games being used for curriculum-based learning. These games are designed purely for entertainment, and not for learning or teaching. By compiling these examples, we show that such games are being used in schools and colleges by teachers and other educators, as part of curriculum-based learning."

Link video clip of Ray Kurzweil about the future of technology and learning.

From the eSchool News Video Resource Center:

'Explosive growth'

Speaking at the NSBA's Technology + Learning Conference Nov. 8, author and inventor Ray Kurzweil reveals what he believes technology will look like in the next decade--and he explains what the "explosive growth" in these technology developments will mean for students.

Credits: eSN TV
Runtime: 4 Minutes 4 Seconds

Note: The eSchool News Online video resource center has a variety of videoclips that highlight different aspects of technology and education. This is a great resource if you need content for presentations about technology and education! Also check out the Edutopia website!

Link to TechPsych Blog: Information about the MacArthur Foundation's $50 Million Digital Media and Learning Initiative, related resources

Take some time and visit the Tech Psych blog to learn more about the MacArthur Foundation's Digital Media and Learning Initiative and related resources!

FutureLabs Research: Teaching with Games

This on-line report from FutureLab (UK) provides new information about ways teachers can use interactive games in educational settings:

"Teaching with Games: A one-year project supported by Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Take-Two and ISFE Final report: Using commercial off-the-shelf computer games in formal education
By Richard Sandford, Mary Ulicsak, Keri Facer and Tim Rudd (September 2006)"

The appendix includes a summary of lesson plans.

Additional links from the FutureLab website include a literature review on the topic of games and learning, a games handbook, and the following external links:
Serious Games Interactive: www.seriousgames.dk
The Education Arcade: www.educationarcade.org
Serious Games Initiative: www.seriousgames.org
Room 130: labweb.education.wisc.edu/room130/index.htm
Games Parents Teachers: www.gamesparentsteachers.com
Department of Defense Game Developers' Community: www.dodgamecommunity.com
EdGames: edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec670
Games For Change: www.seriousgames.org/gamesforchange
Learning Lab Denmark - Rikke Magnussen's research on science games:www.lld.dk/consortia/learninggames/news/chi2004presentation/en
Serious games entry on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serious_game