6 Ways to the Gamification of Education

http://towerdefensenews.blogspot.com/

There are many more than 6, but I like the Duolingo model.  I also like Badges.

I like the idea of applying a 'simple' game goal to learning and watching what happens.  Tower defense is about keeping the baddies from getting across your territory --- you build 'towers', upgrade them, spend resources on heroes, traps, and other stuff to help you defend your space.

Simple. Don't let the baddies get through.

But when you work out all the layers and dynamics, any tower defense game is rich and multidimensional (I say there are about 11 dimensions in TD games).  How can this tool, this game type, be applied to learning (online and brick/mortar)?  There's some movement going on there already.  But how about a tower defense version of cellular functions?  Upgrade your mitochondria so you have enough power to divide before the viruses damage you beyond repair, etc.  And tower defense for orbital mechanics -- your space stations defend vehicles and planets from space debris and maverick rocks.  Great content can be folded into this genre.

Thinking on it.  Here are some things I like:

http://www.biomanbio.com/GamesandLabs/Cellgames/Cells.html

https://www.centreofthecell.org/learn-play/games/

http://interactivesites.weebly.com/cells.html

be researchers

Shifting language from 'reference librarian' and 'reference services' to 'research'. Research services. Be a 'researcher' -- someone who does research, who participates and publishes, and someone who teaches others how to use info sources (in any medium) to do their own research.

Nest Settling

Lookit:

http://woodyevans.wordpress.com/

http://towerdefensenews.blogspot.com/

facebook q&a

I've publicly criticized FB's use by libraries before -- but at the link below I don't even bother to mention the dissolution of reference services this development suggests.

http://woodyevans.com/public_html/archives/795

http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Facebook-Questions--Askcom-Cashing-in-on-Mass-Ignorance-69187.asp

Happy Ada Lovelace Day: Donna Haraway

Ada Lovelace Day: Donna Haraway

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

My hero of the day is Donna Haraway.

I think I first encountered Donna Haraway’s work in about 1996. I was studying up on Actor-Network Theory as part of an effort to get into an exchange program to Keele University (John Law had taught at Keele, and that’s how I got into ANT), and somehow that led me to theCyborg Manifesto. Once at Keele, Primate Visions was required (for a class about society and nature with Gordon Fyfe, I think).

Haraway’s work has really been important to me. She’s helped me to make sense of the interstitial spots between technology and bodies, between people and animals. So for Ada Lovelace day, I celebrate Donna Haraway!

img: rusten hogness via wikimedia commons

woodyevans.com goes archival

Grab it while you can, hoss:

http://woodyevans.com/public_html/feed

(teaching a class how to embed video for their blog projects... Dave ended up as the example for some reason...)