Being creative in getting COTS into a history classroom

What do we want to teach in the history classroom?

What existing tools do history teachers use ?

“The World At War" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Worldatwar.jpg

“The Rise and fall of the Third Reich" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheRiseandFalloftheThirdReich.jpg

British National Archives, defe2-101

Factually based mini series

Primary sources

Documentary

Use of Primary or Secondary based sources

"Patriot promo poster" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Patriot_promo_poster.jpg#/media/File:Patriot_promo_poster.jpg“Forrest Gump meeting JFK" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ForrestGumpJFKScreenshot.jpg#/

“How many miles to Babylon" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HowManyMilesToBabylon.jpg

Use of Historical fiction

"Patriot promo poster" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Patriot_promo_poster.jpg#/media/File:Patriot_promo_poster.jpg“Forrest Gump meeting JFK" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ForrestGumpJFKScreenshot.jpg#/

“How many miles to Babylon" by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HowManyMilesToBabylon.jpg

Use of Historical fiction

So using COTS game in the classroom, what setup would you like to have?

CC BY-SA 2.0 by Arria Belli Game installed on PC’sPC hardware up to standardTIME!Teacher skill to utilise opportunity

What you actually have, what obstacles you have, and what you will get away with?

CC BY-SA 2.0 by Arria Belli

• Game installed on PC’s- not likely to be allowed by IT Dept

• PC hardware up to standard- not likely to be

• TIME!- 40 min blocks/ Exam pressure• Teacher skill to utilise opportunity-

unless a gamer & motivated to do it• Game website blocked • Game cost • Teacher PC and projector

Looking at Assassin Creed

Assassin's Creed is a historical fiction action-adventure open world stealth sandbox style video game series that consists of nine main games and a number of supporting materials, as of 2015, developed and published by Ubisoft.

Where it fits in the syllabus.

Europe from Renaissance to Reformation, 1492-1567Religion and power – politics in the later 16Cth, 1567-1609The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660Europe in the age of Louis XIV, 1660-1715Establishing empires, 1715-1775Empires in revolution, 1775-1815Reform and Reformation in Tudor Ireland, 1494-1558Rebellion and conquest in Elizabethan Ireland, 1558-1603Kingdom versus colony — the struggle for mastery in Ireland, 1603-1660Establishing a colonial ascendancy, 1660-1715Colony versus kingdom – tensions in mid-18th century Ireland, 1715-1770The end of the Irish kingdom and the establishment of the Union, 1770-1815Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920Dictatorship and democracy, 1920-1945Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990The United States and the world, 1945-1989Ireland and the Union, 1815-1870Movements for political and social reform, 1870-1914The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition, 1912-1949The Irish diaspora, 1840-1966Politics and society in Northern Ireland, 1949-1993Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949-1989

Finding out about the pastThe work of the archaeologistLife in Celtic IrelandThe Roman EmpireThe Middle AgesThe RenaissanceAge of ExplorationThe ReformationThe Plantations in IrelandThe Revolutions

American French 1798

The Agricultural and Industrial RevolutionsThe Famine in Ireland 1845-1848Twentieth Century Irish HistorySocial Change in Ireland in the 20th C Europe after World War IThe Cold War 1945 -1961

Leaving Cert TopicsJunior Cert Topics

Europe from Renaissance to Reformation, 1492-1567 Religion and power – politics in the later 16Cth, 1567-1609The eclipse of Old Europe, 1609-1660Europe in the age of Louis XIV, 1660-1715Establishing empires, 1715-1775Empires in revolution, 1775-1815Nationalism and state formation in Europe, 1815-1871Nation states and international tensions, 1871-1920Dictatorship and democracy, 1920-1945Division and realignment in Europe, 1945-1992European retreat from empire and the aftermath, 1945-1990The United States and the world, 1945-1989

The Roman EmpireThe Middle AgesThe RenaissanceAge of ExplorationThe ReformationThe Revolutions

American French

The Agricultural & Industrial RevolutionsEurope after World War IThe Cold War 1945 -1961

Leaving Cert TopicsJunior Cert Topics

Third Crusade Assassin's Creed 2007Renaissance Assassin's Creed II 2009

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 2010Assassin's Creed: Revelations 2011

Age of Piracy Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag 2013Assassin's Creed Rogue 2014

Colonial era Assassin's Creed III 2012Assassin's Creed III: Liberation 2012

French Rev Assassin's Creed Unity 2014Imperial China Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China 2015Victorian England Assassin's Creed Syndicate 2015

What is teachable with Assassins Creed?

Who did that? *What happened? *When did it take place? *Where did it take place? *Why did that happen?*

* Bur remember it is still historical fiction

Leonardo Di Vinci Flying machine 1485 (Assassin Creed II)

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Titian [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Suleiman I ( the Magnificent ) 1494-

1566 as depicted in AC Revelations

Attempted Assassination of Lorenzo De Medici 1478 (Assassin Creed II)

Exploring an open world Florence 1502 (Assassin Creed II Brotherhood)

V

Imagining changes over time Colosseum 1502 (Assassin Creed II Brotherhood)

"Hagia Sophia Mars 2013" by Arild Vågen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hagia_Sophia_Mars_2013.jpg#/media/File:Hagia_Sophia_Mars_2013.jpg

Hagia Sophia taken from Assass Creed Revelations under Fair use http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/File:Hagia_Sophia_001.jpg

Hagia Sophia 1511 (Assassin Creed Revelations)

Outbreak of Revolution - walking around Boston 1775 (Assassin Creed III)

Outbreak of Revolution – shot heard around the world (Assassin Creed III)

Can machinima get around the obstacles?

Teachers PC tend to have more freedom on software installed, ability to access sites and usually a higher spec machine

"Aula de formació" by Zezinho72 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Common

Machinima is the use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production. Most often video games are used to generate the computer animation.

Creating video clips directed by the teacher to indicate or highlight a learning opportunity which can then be up-loaded to Youtube or VLE. But Twitch.tv is …….

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How to extend the learning?

Promoting Literacy & Numeracy focus on in game reading, out of game reading, cross curricular with other subjects.

"Assassin's Creed Unity is a mainstream video game, not a

history lesson”

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Antoine Vimal du MonteilAssassin Creed producer