3 June 2015

The experience of learning

Minecraft is the experience of learning.
The opposite to when you write in a book or listening to a lecture. 

The educational objectives could be applied on any subject, you just use Minecraft instead of paper and pencil. Simple as that. 

This way of learning usually fits like a glove to Generation G ...and stress the hell out of their teachers! The school of today can't keep up with developments, we are still learning as we have been taught without a thought of the target group living in the future.

How does a SAMR PRO look at my efforts trying to use games in the learning process?
As many other Minecraft teachers, I believe I hit the higher steps of SAMR just by using the game, mostly because so much is happening when you start use it that everytime you're exhausted. However, with an outsider's eyes, what does he sees as not I see? What kind of feedback can he give me that allows me to develop my way of using games in learning in a larger perspective. Keywords: Self-development, personal development.

So the math race was on as I told you the other day, the educational objectives was pretty simple: if I change the tool, will they better understand the overall objective?

Face the fact: 
Almost all students struggle with math, they can't see how to solve an equation on paper, but when you put it in the Minecraft content they suddenly understands and start to think, solve, makes arithmetic and more. Something intersting happens when using a game.

Modifcation
So, I had a chat with the SAMR PRO and when you force them to reflect of the challenge using the three questions WHAT, WHEN and WHY you're at step 3 in the SAMR model. 

Redefinition
Because I wanted a written report inside the game (so they also prove that they have taken themselves physically to the final goal) that would probably be quite difficult to implement without the technology, and according to my mentor it smells step 4. But now he suddenly seemed uncertain: exactly how to do a written report inside in a game like Minecraft? (Give and take my friends, give and take)

So, I had to give him the full picture, from the last challenge of the course's final destination and completion, report writing. And here you - dear readers - have it, from the text to the walkthru.

Rumors claim that there is an abandoned military base somewhere around the coordinates 48980 85 34241

We don't have an exact position, but we do have aerial photographs of the area.


This is the island you need to find!


There ought to be a secret, or at least hidden, entrance to the base. We have been told that there is a submarine hiding there, use it and transport you back to the civilization - taking you into the nearest town, looking up city hall and sit down and start thinking about what happened.

Take a pen and paper from the chest


Answer the following questions
  1. What did you like this way of questing?
  2. What has been the biggest challenge?
  3. What have you learned?
  4. When did you learn it?
  5. Why did you learn it?

Then you sign with your name and class, put the book in another marked coffin.


Ready! 
Welcome home and you now have two fresh study points! 
Enjoy the summer!


My learning and experience
When I have my students to reflect, I must ask the questions so that in their cooperation ends up thinking what someone has learned and why. I have to try to highlight why they can master the content (of a course) and, if it's math, also be able to put it into practice.

3 comments:

  1. Looks good Carl. I think you made some education attractive for students again.
    And, as we know that increases the efficiency of learning a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good job Kalle! If we want more learning for our students we have to work hard with our own personal development.

    ReplyDelete