The Firefly Group has a number of usefullgames and simulations available at no cost on their website. Brian Remer, the founder, is a colleague through the North American Simulation and Gaming Association. He is one of the most insightful trainers I have experienced.
60 Second Lectures from the University of Pennsylvania reminded me of an creation of Sivasailam Thiagarajan (aka Thiagi) called 99 seconds. A group of presenters gave 99 second presentations. There was something for everyone attending the session. Handouts were available to ease the remembering.
You can learn what it takes to give a powerful presentation by attempting a 99 second event. Read more in Thiagi’s newletter and tips from ISPI Michigan. Jeff Thomas Cobb of Mission to Learn provides 6 presentation tips from the 60 second lectures.
Tabletop Olympics at NASAGA The other week we were at NASAGA, Bernie De Koven, funsmith, led a session that introduced Junkyard Sports ® Tabletop Olympics. (Those are Becky's hands playing High Cup Jump.)
It was a great session and a very useful idea. Read more from Bernie at Deepfun.com
The Discover Interview: Will Wright - - science news articles online technology magazine articles The Discover Interview: Will Wright The Discover Interview: Will Wright This is a article from Discover Magazine online DISCOVER Vol. 27 No. 08 provides an interesting insight into both a game developer and the ways in which simulation can help us re-view the world in new ways. The reseach behind some of Will's popular games is revealing of how a good game can come from "boring" research. A lesson for those who would use games for learning?
Bernie Dekoven is a wonderful game designer and playful guy. Back in September I wrote about Giant Pick Up Sticks, a game inspired by Bernie's work in the last century (1976) in Philadephia as a part of the centenial celebration in the City of Brotherly Love. This time, I want to introduce you to one of Bernies more recent innovation. The Junkyard Golf Course and Community Building Event with Potluck To quote Bernie "Everybody can play. There are calls to creativity and collaboration, invitations to inclusion, incentives for sharing, and it all somehow connects people to each other and to the world they are creating together." Bernie freely gives you a complete set of intructions for how to play in a do-it-yourself way. An alternative is to get his book JunkYard Sports and get directions for this and many other fun activities. We have done junkyard golf indoors as a part of the NASAGA conference. We did it with the help of this book, (and a call to Bernie).
If you are a trainer or conference organizer and like this idea, but need a truely structured simulation game activity for a conference or teambuilding. Bernie does sell a complete facilitator guide and participants materials for an indoor version called Finger Golf. This version provides you with a structure that helps you not only have fun and create community, but also begin to reflect on community formation and about how you can take more responsibility for your participation and the benefits you receive.
Thiagi: Training Games Collection
These Training Games are ready-to-use activities from a number of game designers. The collection was harvested from Thiagi's Online Newsletter--a monthy must-read for designers and facilitators of active learning.
James Paul Gee -Cliff Notes on Games and Learning
In The Classroom of Popular Culture James Gee summarizes his book What video games can teach us about making students want to learn. The article makes the key points; good quick read. Harvard Education Letter - November/December 2005
