Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds

Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds Strategies for Online Instruction Clark Aldrich Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds The infusion of games, simulations, and virtual worlds into online learning can be a transforming experience for both the instructor and the student. This practical guide, written by education game expert Clark Aldrich, shows faculty members and instructional designers how to identify opportunities for building games, simulations, and virtual environments into the curriculum; how to successfully incorporate these interactive environments to enhance student learning; and how to measure the learning outcomes. It also discusses how to build institutional support for using and financing more complex simulations. The book includes frameworks, tips, case studies and other real examples, and resources. Praise for Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds "e;Clark Aldrich provides powerful insights into the dynamic arena of games, simulations, and virtual worlds in a simultaneously entertaining and serious manner as only he can. If you are involved with educating anyone, from your own children to classrooms full of students, you need to devour this book."e; Karl Kapp, assistant director, Institute for Interactive Technologies, Bloomsburg University "e;At a time when the technologies for e-learning are evolving faster than most people can follow, Aldrich successfully bridges the perceptual gap between virtual worlds, digital games, and educational simulations, and provides educators with all they really need to use this technology to enhance and enrich their e-learning experiences."e; Katrin Becker, instructor, Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Mount Royal College, and adjunct professor of education, University of Calgary "e;I consider this a must-read for anyone engaged in or contemplating using these tools in their classrooms or designing their own tools."e; Rick Van Sant, professor of learning and technology, Ferris State University

Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and LearningLearning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual WorldsStrategies for Online InstructionClark AldrichLearning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual WorldsThe infusion of games, simulations, and virtual worlds intoonline learning can be a transforming experience for both theinstructor and the student. This practical guide, written byeducation game expert Clark Aldrich, shows faculty members andinstructional designers how to identify opportunities for buildinggames, simulations, and virtual environments into the curriculum;how to successfully incorporate these interactive environments toenhance student learning; and how to measure the learning outcomes.It also discusses how to build institutional support for using andfinancing more complex simulations. The book includes frameworkstips, case studies and other real examples, and resources.Praise for Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and VirtualWorlds"Clark Aldrich provides powerful insights into the dynamic arenaof games, simulations, and virtual worlds in a simultaneouslyentertaining and serious manner as only he can. If you are involvedwith educating anyone, from your own children to classrooms full ofstudents, you need to devour this book." Karl Kapp, assistant director, Institute for InteractiveTechnologies, Bloomsburg University"At a time when the technologies for e-learning are evolvingfaster than most people can follow, Aldrich successfully bridgesthe perceptual gap between virtual worlds, digital games, andeducational simulations, and provides educators with all theyreally need to use this technology to enhance and enrich theire-learning experiences." Katrin Becker, instructor, Department of Computer Scienceand Information Systems, Mount Royal College, and adjunct professorof education, University of Calgary"I consider this a must-read for anyone engaged in orcontemplating using these tools in their classrooms or designingtheir own tools." Rick Van Sant, professor of learning and technology, FerrisState University

Preface.Part I: What Are Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds, andWhy Should I Care?Chapter 1: Understanding Highly Interactive VirtualEnvironmentsDo Highly Interactive Virtual Environments Work Better?The "Why".Clarifying What We Mean by Highly Interactive VirtualEnvironments.Chapter 2: Embracing Interactivity.Interactivity Levels 0 through 6.Interactivity Levels and Leadership Models.Chapter 3: Sims: A New Model of Content.Simulation Elements.Game Elements.Pedagogical Elements.Tasks and Levels.Genres of Stand-Alone Sims.Four Concluding ThoughtsChapter 4: Highly Interactive Content from the Students' and theInstructor's Perspective.Different Culture, Different Rules.Learning to Love Frustration and Anticipate Resolution.How Well Does the Instructor Have to Know the Sim?Part II: Choosing and Using a Highly Interactive VirtualEnvironment.Chapter 5: Identifying The Right Approach for the RightNeed.Why Use Distance Learning Programs at All?When to Use Highly Interactive Content.Costs Associated with HIVEs.Chapter 6: Doing the Prep Work.Connect with Other Interested Professionals.Access the Content.Infrastructure Selection Criteria.Content Selection CriteriaSelf-Paced/Single Player, Asynchronous, or Synchronous.Trust.Conclusion: Might Second Life Be the Interface to (Other)Sims?Chapter 7: Integrating and Piloting.Technical Support for Students.Chunking Content.Piloting.Conclusion: The Need for Front Loading.Chapter 8: A Brief Example of a Simulation Deployment.Peter Shea's Sim for Writing.Students as Real-Time Evaluators of Sims?Chapter 9: The Processes of Using a HIVE and the Role ofCoaching.The Setup.On Ramp: From Real Life to Simulation.Teaching the Interface.First Public Simulation Play.Putting Together Groups for Multiplayer or Team-Based Sims.Coaching during the Student Use.After Action Reviews.Off Ramp: From Simulation Back to Real Life.Into the Breach.Chapter 10: Creating Evaluation Strategies.Why Not Measure Experience with a Multiple-Choice Test?Assessment Strategies.Assessment Techniques for Grading Student Performance.Conclusion.Part III: Other Considerations.Chapter 11: Selling Interactive EnvironmentsInternally--Getting Buy In from Administrators, DepartmentHeads, Colleagues, Parents, and even Students.Building Support for HIVEs.What Does Success Look Like for You?Epilogue: The New Attraction of Distance Learning.References.Index.