Adam Gleason

Video Games & Simulations in the Classroom 

Video Games & Simulations in the Classroom was the first course I took in the masters program. In this course we learned about one of the most recent trends in the field, which is the use of video games for classroom and educational purposes. The class was hosted on a gaming site where we earned badges and points for participation and completion of course assignments. I was able to create my own avatar for the course and keep track of my points and badges in comparison to other classmates. 

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In regard to some specific class projects, we focused in on the Octalysis model for evaluating games and their ability to enhance educational classrooms. I was able to use the model to speak on the eight core drives in reference to my own experience with the game of basketball. Then, in one of the final projects of the course, I created my own gamified unit centered around helping my students athletes improve their free throw shooting. I really enjoyed this course because it truly helped me tap into my creativity and increased my knowledge around the gaming environment and how to use it properly to enhance the classroom experience. Unfortunately, the website we used for the class is restricted so I was not able to embed it onto this portfolio. However, I was able to include screenshots of some of my posts so you will be able to view my avatar, analysis using the eight core drives of gamification, and my gamified unit.