Episode 18: How to Use Games to Design Engaging Learning Experiences with Dr. Travis Thurston
Description:
Our guest in episode 18 of the Lecture Breakers podcast is Dr. Travis Thurston, Assistant Director of Empowering Teaching Excellence at Utah State University.
A couple of months ago, I posted a question to the Lecture Breakers Facebook group asking if you are interested in games or gamification as a way to break up lectures.
Based on your responses and emails, it sounds like many of you are definitely interested in this topic, so I have invited several guests to the show to talk about games, gamification, and experiential learning.
The first episode where we talked about games and experiential learning was episode 16 with Mark Collard. Today is our second episode about games, our guest today is Dr. Travis Thurston.
Now, in episode 16, Mark and I discussed specific games and activities you can use for different classroom situations. Today, in this episode, Travis and I are digging a little deeper into the research and benefits of using games as a teaching and learning strategy.
We discuss the different types of games – from Jeopardy to badges to creating your own games. Travis shares the latest research and connects games to different frameworks such as using an "architecture of engagement" to help you think about what types of games to use in your courses and how to connect those games to design meaningful and powerful learning experiences.
Memorable Quotes:
"What if, as teachers, rather than be evaluators, we are actually facilitators?"
"One small change can impact the entire experience for our students."
"We have to create learning environments that allow students to become intrinsically motivated."
Show Notes:
- Follow Dr. Travis N Thurston, PhD on Twitter (#gamification, #edtech)
- Follow Travis’ new blog on Twitter: InstructDev
- Follow Empowering Teaching Excellence at USU on Twitter
- Read more about Riggs & Linder (2016) Architecture of Engagement in Online Courses
- View slides on Travis’ work with Architecture of Engagement for Ed Development
- Read more about ARCS Model of Motivational Design from John Keller
- Read more about the Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility from Fisher & Frey
- Read more about Using Games to Enhance Student Achievement from Robert Marzano
- Read more about Growth Mindset from Carol Dweck
- Read Travis' study Design Case: Implementing Gamification with ARCS to Engage Digital Natives
- Read more about Gamification Strategies to Spark Student Interest from Travis
- Read more about gamification with Freerice
- Try using Kahoot or Plickers to implement formative quiz games
- Consider Gamifying Student Engagement from Matthew Farber
- Get the books: How College Works by Daniel Chambliss, How Humans Learn* by Joshua Eyler, and Small Teaching* by James Lang
- Attend a POD Network Conference
- Attend an InstructureCon
- Read about Gamification on eLearningIndustry
- Participate in the Gamification group on the Canvas Community
- Read my blog post and add journaling to your debriefing experience: 12 Things You Can Do With Journals to Promote Reflection and Encourage Engagement
- Read this blog post from Travis: 3 Tips for Teaching with Games and Experiences
- Read this article for another gaming idea: CSI in the Classroom: Using Crime Solving Games to Teach Research and Evaluation by E. Byrd and L. Bedini.
- Join the free Lecture Breakers Facebook group
- Don't miss an episode! Be sure to subscribe to the show!
Transcript:
Some of these resources contain affiliate links (indicated by *). If you purchase a product or sign up for a program through one of these links, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I only endorse products and services that I think will be helpful for you and that I have used myself. Thank you for your support.