The latest edition of the Consolarium podcast is now available. You can subscribe to the podcast from itunes via this link or listen to it via the embedded player.

Super samba inspired learning in schools!

This edition of the Consolarium podcast is solely dedicated to a project that came to an end just before Christmas 2009. Meldrum PS and Slains PS in Aberdeesnhire had been working with the game Samba de Amigo for the Nintendo Wii. When this game first came out the team at the Consolarium thought that this would have great potential in schools and so it was duly purchased. Here’s what it looks like:

OK, I think that after that clip you may be asking, “How on earth can a game that requires the player to shake out samba rhythms help children learn?” Well it most certainly has. What has been going on?

Samba de Amigo inspires ‘relevant and engaging learning’

The methodology that the Consolarium invariably employs in our approach to game based learning involves the computer game being used as the central ‘contextual hub’ about which learning can be situated. We have used this approach with many of our previous projects and it has proved to be a successful methodology. The teachers involved in this project worked together to create a collaborative story that focused on a rags to riches tale about a favela dwelling samba musician who made it to the big time. Accompanying this came the story of a plane, that was carrying the newly created Samba music superstar, crashing in the Amazon jungle and the associated learning about that. Here is some of the children’s work. Here is a news report of that event:

Some people may still be of the opinion that the idea of game based learning is something that does not sit with what school should be about but we would argue that game based learning, if used appropriately, can excite, challenge and create relevant and appealing contexts for learners. Just look at how writing has been developed here”

• The children created their own samba stars and wrote a biographies about them. Have a read of one these: The life of Angelo de Rimosto (biography)
• The children were inspired to carry out research about the Amazon Rainforest as a result of the “plane crash’ scenario and other ways in which the teachers had created the settings in which intrinsic motivation to explore the topic. Have a read of this piece of writing: The Amazon Rainforest
• The children from both schools used Glow to begin to explore how they could work together on story start project. Here is the beginnings of their efforts: Trible Troubles Chapters 1, 2 and 3 If you would like to find out more about how Glow was used then join their Samba de Amigo Glow group.
• The children also used Crazy Talk to great effect to bring their writing to life. Here we see how writing about an imaginary Amazonian rainforest creature can be enhanced by this simple piece of technology:

If you take the time to listen to the podcast about the Samba de Amigo project then you’ll here us talking to a pupil about his experience. If we could have written a script for a pupil to read out about the benefits of game based learning then what he said (without coaching or prompting we may add) would have been what we would have said. He talks about his learning connecting up, about it being exciting and active and how he will rmember this project. Great stuff from him. Here is a brief clip of some boys  actively involved in the project and warming up for their Samba music creation lesson.

Hopefully the podcast and this brief blogpost will give you a flavour of just how good this GBL project was. A fuller account of what was done and how this GBL context impacted on learning will be released in the near future. In the meantime can we just say thanks to all at Meldrum PS and Slains PS for working with us on this project.

This editon of the Consolarium is now available. You can subscribe to the podcast from itunes via this link or listen to it via the embedded player.

This edition of the Consolarium podcast consists of the following:

Reflections on BETT10

Derek Robertson and Ollie Bray attended the BETT10 educational technology exhibition at London’s Olympia. They offer their reflections of how this visit was for them…

Mario and Sonic at the Olympics at Gavinburn PS

Ollie Bray interviews Gillian Penny, the headteacher of Gavinburn PS from Old Kilpatrick in West Dunbartonshire. Mrs Penny has become a real ally and asset to game based learning having carried out some tremendous initiatives in conjunction with the Consolarium over the past year or so. Ollie talks to her about the planning process involved in leading game based learning projects in a school and they take the chance to focus on how planning for the Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympics project is progressing.

AOCBGBL

Brian McLaren talks bout how he is using the lovely www.buildyourwildself.com resource to support his work in schools with Wild Earth African Safari.

Olie Bray recommends an website called www.blabberize.com that allows you to turn images into talking, or blabbering, animations. Very nice!

Derek Robertson mentions a new published book about computer games called Fun Inc. Why Games are the 21st Centuries Most Serious Business by Tom Chatfield

Brian Clark recommends the website www.tutpup.com. Online numeracy and spelling challenges.

Isn’t the Christmas and New Year break just great. However, getting back to work and attempting to fit in to the work clothes can bring one back down to earth with a bump as the two weeks of festive excess appears to still be with you! Fully in-keeping with our Health and Well-Being agenda the team at the Consolarium has resolved to try to shift from their expanded wasit lines the trifle, turkey, mince pies, Black Bun and possibly the occasional beer  that they had consumed over the festive break.

The Wii Fit Weight Loss Challenge

We are quite lucky at the Consolarium as we do have access to a variety of exergaming titles. Dance mats have always been popular but we have decided to focus on looking at how the Wii Fit can help us lose weight. The Wii Fit Weight Loss Challenge is now underway! We all weighed ourselves on Wednesday 6th January 2010 and we plan to undertake our exergaming exercise programme over the next 8 weeks with a finish date of Wednesday 3rd March 2010. Here are our initial weights in kilogrammes:

If you would like to participate in the Consolarium’s efforts at getting the weight off then feel free to join us. We are posting our weekly weigh-ins on Twitter with the hashtag of #wiifitweightlosschallenge. Have a go and let’s see if we can make those work-shirts a little less tight fitting!

Stirling Council visits the Consolarium

A recording of us using the Wii Fit board to record our initial weights is part of our second podcast. You can access/subscribe to the podcast via this link. This podcast also contains an interview with our colleagues from Stirling Council, Margaret Cassidy and Joe Shaw. Margaret and Joe have been great partners of the Consolarium and have been involved in quite a few projects with us for example Moshi Monsters, Endless Ocean and Crazy Talk.

AOCBGBL

Our AOCBGBL (any other competent business games based learning) section sees us talking about these resources:

Blue Murder Mystery Files: A narrative driven puzle packed murder mystery game for the PS3. Beautiful graphics, an engaging narrative and real challenge in those puzzles.

Light-bot: Control a robot by giving it commands. Use programmer-style logic for more complex levels that include functions to re-use.

Yudu: A lovely little tool that allows texts to be converted to page turning digital books.

Let us know what you think of the podcast. Your feedback would be appreciated and do feel free to join us in our #wiifitweightlosschallenge!

LTS in conjunction with 4ip worked with SixToStart to create and pilot an iPhone/iTouch App called TapTale. TapTale’s primary goal is to promote literacy through the reading and writing of tales using the tap, tilt, shake and swipe functions of Apples touch screen devices.

When creating a tale, pupils are asked to write chapters using the touchscreen keyboard on the device. In order to progress from chapter to chapter, the reader must use one of the tap, swipe, tilt or shake sequences. It is up to the author of the tale to decide what action must be taken for the reader to see the next chapter.

Once a tale has been created, users can upload them via the device to the taptale website. This allows other registered user to download and read their tales directly on the device. Registered users can provide feedback on any tale via the website using a ‘fridge magnet’ style form. Anyone can read the tales created directly from the site, but of course the tapping and tilting functions are not possible in this view.

This App looks really promising. I really like the idea of pupils incorporating the device’s actions in their tales. For example, each chapter could provide clues to what action is expected for the reader to progress.

Chapter : “… Anum waved goodbye to John …”
Expected Action – Shake
Chapter: “… heard a knock at the door …”
Expected Action – Double tap

Encouraging pupils to read and write, provide and receive feedback using interactive and relevant technology should not only improve literacy skills but digital literacy skills.
Needless to say, I am delighted to be involved with the forthcoming pilot and am looking forward to seeing the impact it has.

Over the last wee while I have been visiting schools to see the impact of some ongoing projects.  I visited Tullos Primary in Aberdeen where a class of primary 6 children have been undertaking a Wild Earth African Safari.  I popped in to see a primary 3 class in Dingwall Primary working on a Nintendogs project and then off to Alvie Primary in Kincraig near Aviemore where a composite p 3/4/5 were taking on their own African Safari.

In Tullos Primary the teacher undertaking the project spoke about her experience at an InService day and the rest of the staff were so impressed by the potential that they will be purchasing gaming technology of their own so games based learning can be extended throughout the school.

In Dingwall primary the children have been using their Nintendogs to enhance and improve literacy. Both management and class teacher have been amazed by the impact and how the desire to write and reach an audience outside the school, through their blog, has moved the learning of all the class forward.

From Alvie Primary the teacher has tied the whole experience together as an enterprise Activity and will showcase the work for parents in a Safari afternoon.  She also reckons that when the wii is returned to the Consolarium it will have a whole class of children attached to it who will not let it go!

In all classes I was met with enthusiasm and engagement and a joy about learning.  In the Guardian newspaper last week Professor Stephen Heppell  comments that ,

“Play is something that ICT has been bringing into learning from the very beginning.  ICT in learning holds the potential to bring back playfulness and engagement…”

     Guardian, Tuesday 8th December, Education Supplement

The Games based learning approach taps straight into this potential and, for those of us working in the Consolarium, we are lucky enough to see practical examples of the impact of this everywhere we go.  Share the joy!  If you and your class or school are using games based learning then please let us know and share your good practice.

Neverwinter Nights – St Augustines High School, Edinburgh

In 2008, Susan Falconer – Computing teacher at St Augustines High School embarked on a Games Design project with S1 pupils using Neverwinter Nights. Judy Robertson from Heriot Watt University took the Neverwinter Nights game and lead the development of the Adventure Author and Fridge Magnets plugins.

Using the fantasy adventure theme in Neverwinter Nights  as a contextual hub for learning, pupils engaged in a 6 week, interdisciplinary task involving a number of departments.  The following departments contributed to the project in the following ways

• Computing – design and creation of a fantasy adventure game
• English – explore narrative and character in the fantasy genre
• CDT – creation of DVD cover for competed computer game
• Business Education – creation of a business plan for computer game release
• Home Economics – character inspired chocolate truffle making
• Drama – acting out a scene from their fantasy game

The 2008 S1 cohort, now in S2, are continuing the Games Design theme with more subject areas taking part. Susan and the rest of the team are planning to roll the project into S3 next year.

This small slide show will give you a taste of the project.

I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Susan about the project.

Tell us about the project objectives

The aim of Curriculum for Excellence is to enhance pupil learning.  By engaging pupils through the use of computer game modelling software, this projects aim was to inspire their work through an interdisciplinary approach, initially in Computer Studies and English, bringing relevance of aspects of their learning in the different departments to pupils.

In order to promote literacy, you engaged with the English department.  Can you tell us about that particular link?

In English, the focus was on narrative devices used in story-telling, particularly in the Fantasy genre, improve their appreciation of the writers skill and improve their own imaginative writing.  In particular, to look at setting, characterisation, plot and dialogue.

The focus in the Computing department, was to further develop their ideas and create a fantasy game with Neverwinter Nights using the setting, characterisation, plot and dialogue written in English as inspiration and guidance.  Pupils developed a rich variety of new skills and enhanced their ability to learn from each other.

What was the impact of the project?

The pupils loved it. They worked without realising it and were inspired.

Attainment was raised

The pupils experienced a variety of familiar and unfamiliar challanges

What makes the project special?

We put learning and fun hand in hand.  Pupils were given a worldly business experience where they had to create a product from inception to marketing, linking disciplines from many departments, showing the relevance of each.

The cross curricular project was highly commended in the recent HMIE inspection and is a fantastic example of how Games technology can really enhance the curriculum and engage with the CfE outcomes.

Look out for a more detailed look at the project, including videos, in our sharing practice section.

“No man is an island”

John Donne espoused that we are all connected and I think that we are all the better for it.  Having connections whether familial, social or professional enriches all that we do and extends, supports and challenges us.

I have been thinking recently about the way my learning has changed now that I am no longer in a school setting and how much I relied on the people in my school staff to bounce ideas off, to rant to, to use the experience of and to laugh with.  Now that I no longer have a physical staffroom to use I have found myself using the skills and knowledge of a different set of people in a very different way.  I have a virtual staffroom, open 24hrs a day containing a set of people from all over the world, with a huge array of skills and experience which I can tap into, and who generously share their learning.  I use Twitter.  There, I’ve said it and it doesn’t make me a bad person!

One of the first people I was in contact with in my very early days of twitter was Caroline Breyley, the headteacher of Burravoe Primary School on the Island of Yell, the second largest of the Shetland Isles. 

 She and her class were considering the use of Wild Earth: African Safari for the Wii and wondered if it would be a worthwhile context for learning.  Through the work they have shared with me it is clear that they have been involved in a very engaging, motivating and successful piece of learning.   I had the great privilege of meeting the children online at the tail end of last week.  We set up a Glowmeet and through the use of this technology children over 400 miles away, including at least one flight and a ferry, could share the fantastic work they had done with me in real time and get immediate feedback.  Go and visit the Burravoe Primary School blog, read about life in their school and read the “Brilliant Story” by Charlotte in  p3.

Through the use of technology available to those in Scottish Education our children have access to an immediate national audience for their work, Glow groups, glow meet, CANVAS and a host of blogs allow our children the opportunity to share their work and receive feedback .  We should all be sharing our practice and seeking feedback on the work we do and providing constructive feedback on the work of others. We cannot afford to be islands.

Years ago, when TV was a source for the collective conscious, I remember sitting down with my folks to watch the Generation Game on BBC1. The willing contestants were always presented with challenging and nonsensical tasks to try out and one that sticks in my mind involved handbell ringing!

Somehow a visit to a school in Peterhead last week to see a game based learning initiative that used Wii Music brought that memory back to me as I watched groups of children swing their wiimotes and nunchunks in a campanology stylee but in so doing they  really were ringing the bell for game based learning in schools…

I was contacted by Jonathan Cordiner from the Aberdeenshire Glow team some time ago to be informed about the work that he was doing with Esther Clark and her P.6 class from Buchanhaven PS in Peterhead using the game Wii Music for the Nintendo Wii. Now Wii Music involves a number of games that encourage you to ‘jam’ with the Miis on screen and in so doing play various instruments and learn a surprising amount about music.

When I mentioned the potential of learning about music through this game to some people they did not initially think that standing in front of a screen waving a game controller up and down or side to side could have any real substance or add value to learners experience in this area. Having visited the class and seeing what they have done for myself I can’t help saying just how incredible the skilled and informed use of this resource has been and just what a tremendous impact this has had on the learners in this class.

What have they been learning?

The first thing that struck me when I met the class was just again how excited and motivated the children were to show what they had been doing and to demonstrate their new skills.

For me the educational ethos in a class is so important if children are to be engaged by learning and here we saw a class bursting with enthusiasm, industry, skills and knowledge of their subject. I saw:

• Groups of children accompanying the Miis with various vitual instruments in the game to perfectly perform a selection of songs
• Children learning about the role and responsibility of the orchestra conductor and showing their skills in conducting the Wii orchestra
• Children moving away from the game to play ‘real’ instruments in order to play the songs they had performed within the game
• Children talking confidently and knowledgeably about the range of musical instruments AND musical notation
• Children performing their own ringtones that were created using a pentatonic scale
• Children using Glow to share their work and to engage with tasks set bu the teacher in Glow Learn (and to perform at an international education conference go to 30mins)
• Class displays about various composers and the different genres of music there are

Above all I saw learning happening in a classroom bursting with life. We have videoed a lot of the work that the children have been doing but is just at the edit stage but have a quick look at some of the work that the children have done about the composers that they investigated:

Yet again we see how a game built for entertainment can prove to be such a rich source for learning when used by skilled and thoughtful teachers who know how to use game based learning in order to create the appropriate context and climate in which rich learning can thrive.  There have been many requests to the Aberdeenshire Glow team for the plans that were used for this  project. These can be accessed here:

Aberdeenshire Council’s Wii Music plans

This project was a sheer delight to see and many congratulations must go to Jonathan and Esther for their imaginative and thorough approach, an approach that has made this initiative such a success.

Hello, World!

First of all, let me introduce myself.  I am Brian Clark-  new Development Officer at the Consolarium.  I am Principal Teacher of Computing at Portobello High School in Edinburgh and have just started this Games Based Learning secondment with LTS.

Day 1 (well, day 2 actually)

First  job took me to the Manga High training day at the Savoy Centre in Glasgow with my esteemed colleague, and  fellow DO, Mr Brian McLaren.  We spent the morning with 10 Glasgow based maths teachers who are going to pilot Manga High in their schools. 

The Manga High team have developed a series of games for the 10-16 age group that requires the application of mathematical concepts from the first click of the ‘Play Now’ button.  It is one of the first games based learning tools I have seen that really challenges pupils of all abilities, and, importantly, it is presented in a modern, accessible and flash based format that regular users of miniclip.com are familiar with.

“Mangahigh’s unique game-based learning system brings out the mathematician in ALL students who love games.”

Let The Games Begin

Here are a few of the games that we were introduced to ….

Flower Power

The maths team take on an ordering game.  Can you do better? How much can you harvest?  How much can you make?
It’s amazing how the quickly contest hotted up!  Try it yourself.

Ice Ice Baby

It’s all about estimation!  Guess correctly, or should I say, guess as close to the correct answer as you can, and you can save our little Antartician friends!  Save the peguins!

These are just 2 examples of the activites MangaHigh have created.  You can try all the games here.

But, that’s not all…

So, the games themselves require application of maths from the beginning (did you try the Pyramid Panic game? Wow!  Talk about real problem solving with real maths), but what makes MangaHigh an exciting development is Prodigi. 

Prodigi provides lessons and questions based on the ability of the pupils.  The questions are generated based on how well pupils perform in the games.  This can all be monitored by the teacher using the Analytics tool.  More detailed information can be found here.

The Pilot Schools

The 10 Glasgow schools invovled in the pilot are developing impelmentation strategies for various year groups.  Some of the ways the schools are planning to use Manga High include :

• setting homework
• teaching a new mathematical concept
• revision and reinforcement of taught concepts
• a tool to increase motivation in class

What was really encouraging to hear was that the maths staff were discussing the application of MangaHigh at all stages from S1  up to Higher.  There was also great discussion about how to implement MangaHigh a classroom that did not have 20+ computers.  One great idea was to use an interactive whiteboard and an electronc voting system – really looking forward to following that particular implementation up!

In terms of CfE, there are so many specific outcomes this games based approach to maths covers.  There are the obvious links to the Numeracy Accross Learning and Mathematics outcomes.  Also, within Technologies, it tackles many of the outomes that focus on ICT to Enhance Learning.

Brian McL and I will be following each schools implementation of this over the coming weeks and will update you on their experiences. 

Having just returned from the Handheld Learning Festival I thought I would share some thoughts about what I saw and what we brought to the festival. 

There was a range of thought provoking and interesting speakers from Professor James Paul Gee, author of “What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy”(2003) and “Good Video Games and Good Learning: Collected Essays” (2007)

Through personal reflections on education by Zenna Atkins, the Non-Executive Chairman of Ofsted, to Malcolm McLaren, artist and pop culture icon, as well as a host of others. 

As well as these keynotes I also managed to hear John Davitt talk of the tools and technology available to teachers and his desire that we use these tools more productively.  I was also delighted to see Tim Rylands, he of MYST fame, show work he has been undertaking with children using Wild Earth:African Safari.

Perhaps the highlight, for me anyway, was to be involved with the Spotlight Scotland Breakout, hosted by Learning and Teaching Scotland.  It was standing room only for a series of 30 minute bursts of great practice and innovation in Scottish Education.  Katie Barrowman gave a great presentation on GLOW which highlighted GLOW meet and the power of sharing, Derek Robertson introduced CANVAS (Children’s Art at the National Virtual Arena of Scotland) to the appreciative audience.  My presentation was on the work undertaken by children in Clackmannan Primary and their teacher Morag Clark.  You can watch a version of this below.

After a short break Lisa Sorbie from Perth High School showcased work an S1 class had undertaken with Hotel Dusk:Room 215, some great writing in the noir genre.  Anna Rossvoll from Aberdeenshire showed the power of GLOW meet and Wii music introducing, live, a class from Peterhead who spoke to and performed for the audience in London.  Ollie Bray concluded the session with a great presentation on the power of free tools for teachers.  You can click this link for more on Ollie’s presentation.