INTERACTIVE TEXT

Teaching Video Games in the English/Language Arts Classroom

@SSullivanLHS teachingtolead.blogspot.com

Who am I?

English Teacher/Dept. Chairman at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Ohio

B.A. from Baldwin-Wallace College in English

M.A. from New York University in English Education

Administration and Leadership license from Cleveland State Universtity

Who Am I?

Goals

Gently discuss research and data that supports using video games in the classroom

Tell about the creation of the Great Literature/Great Games course at Lakewood High School

Provide useful teaching strategies and lesson ideas to implement immediately in your classrooms

Level 1…Games Matter!

“…the theory of learning in video games fits better with the modern, high-tech, global world today’s children and teenagers live in than do the theories (and practices) of learning that they see in school.”

James Paul GeeWhat Video Games

HaveTo Teach Us About Learning and Literacy

“Today’s kids want to be engaged, and [video] games not only engage them, but teach them valuable lessons in the process—lessons that we want them to learn.”

Marc Prensky“Don’t Bother Me

Mom- I’m Learning”

Data says:

63% of Millennials (18-34) own a game console (Pew Research Center 2011)63% of Gen X (35-46) own a game console (Pew Research Center 2011) 97% of teens play computer, console, mobile or portable games (Pew Internet 2008)

Games are fun! (Entertainment)

Games are engaging! (Interaction)

Games are difficult to ignore! (mobile v. console)

Games are accessible! (Easy to learn)

Conversations in my classroom about video games became more engaging than the conversations about books! (Student driven)

Students are willing to fail at games and try again (no matter how long it takes) until they learn how to reach the end. (Resilience)

Level 2…Great Lit./Great Games

Video Game Culture and Vocabulary Genre Character Analysis Storytelling Adaptations

In this class, we read video games like any other literary text the students may encounter.

Level 3…Teaching Games

Bioshock (Xbox 360/PS3)Skyrim (Xbox 360/PS3)Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360/PS3)Mass Effect 2 (Xbox 360/PS3)Heavy Rain (PS3)Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360/PS3)Fallout 3 (Xbox 360/PS3)Lost in Shadows (Wii)Journey (PS3)Flower (PS3)Limbo (PS3/Xbox 360)The Unfinished Swan (PS3/Xbox 360)

The Metagame

The Metagame is a card game where you argue and debate about video games and culture.

www.metaga.me

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1 Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Journey (PS3)

Task:

Watch the game play video for stage 1 of Journey. As you watch, write a narrative that establishes a clear setting, conflict, and uses direct characterization.

Journey Game Play Video

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Flower (PS3)

Task:

Can video games be art? After playing Flower, create an argument to answer the question. Use specific examples from the game to support you claims.

Flower Game Play Video

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

If our students are engaged, teaching the common core standards will be easy!

Level 4…Outcomes

Video Games are the new literature!Video Games are a part of the culture of this generation and can't be ignoredStudents can do the work we think they can't if they are engagedVideo Games must be viewed as serious educational tools

Level 5…Recommendations

Go play some video games! Respect the ESRB ratings Talk to your students about the games they

already play (Why are they engaging?) Listen to the conversations your students

have about games Research gaming websites, books,

magazines, researchers, etc. to better understand the gaming world

Plan, Plan, Plan

Game Over…

For more information about teaching video games in the classroom, go to my blog www.teachingtolead.blogspot.com. Available there are resources, sample lesson ideas, and other interesting articles about teaching and learning.

Shane A. SullivanLakewood City Schools – English Dept. Chair@SSullivanLHS