Games in Higher Ed: How to Increase Student Involvement in the Classroom

Video games are everywhere: 97% of teens and 53% of adults play video games on a computer, a gaming console, a cell phone, or other handheld device*. Games are increasingly being used for teaching and learning. So how can you use games to increase student involvement in your course? This workshop will address how participants can use games and game-like activities in their class to increase learner motivation and participation, and how they can receive assistance to do this.

*http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/Adults-and-Video-Games.aspx.

Objectives:

• Learn about the Educational Gaming Commons at Penn State and what it can do for you
• Explore the uses of games, simulations, and virtual worlds for in-class and out-of-class activities
• Discover the "fun" things you can take from games and learn how to apply them in more traditional learning situations