EDUC 4803 F2

EDUC 5843 A2

Curriculum Explorations: Games

also known as

Games across the curriculum

This course explores the use of simulation games and literary word games in teaching. Simulation games are those that offer a model for a process. For example, such games might simulate evolution, or democracy, or discovery. By playing a simulation game one comes to better understand the process being simulated. Literary word games explore the power and potential of language by introducing unusual restrictions or random elements into language use. They can be considered simulation games as well, simulating what mathematicians do with axiom systems and what poets do with language. Games that will be investigated in the course include Nomic, a simulation of legislation in a democracy; Eleusis and the Induction game, simulations of the process of scientific discovery; the iterated Prisoners' Dilemma, a simulation of evolution which gives insight into the value of altruism, and language games in the style of the Oulipo group. For information about these games, see the links page.

Students in the course will have a choice of assignments:

Assignment Maximum possible mark
Group size 1; 2; 3; 4
Class participation* 15
Creation of a bibliography of research related to simulations in education** 25; 50/3; 50/4; 10
Creation of a bibliography of published teaching ideas related to simulations in education 25; 50/3; 50/4; 10
Modification of one of the games explored in the course and a description of a possible use in teaching 25; 50/3; 50/4; 10
Invention of a game and a description of a possible use in teaching 35; 70/3; 70/4; 14
Location of an appropriate game not explored in the course and a description of a possible use in teaching 20; 40/3; 10; 8
A scholarly paper ** 35; 70/3; 70/4; 14
A short scholarly paper 18; 12; 9; 7
Design and maintenance of a set of web pages related to the course 25; 50/3; 50/4; 10
Creation of a page of links related to the games explored in the course 15; 10; 30/4; 6

* Required of all students
** Required of students in Educ 5843 A2 Students may not attempt a set of assignments whose maximum mark exceeds a total of 110.
Students may work in groups. The maximum mark for the assignment, if done as a group, will be adjusted according to this formula: Group Mark = (2 times Individual Mark) divided by (number of people in the group plus one) All assignments will be published on the course web page.

Assignment descriptions

Research Bibliography assignment

Prepare an annotated bibliography of research related to simulation games, role play, word games, etc. Include articles reporting research published in peer reviewed journals. Use APA style. For each article include a short abstract or summary, relating the research reported in the article to the ideas developed in the course.

Teaching Bibliography assignment

Prepare an annotated bibliography of teaching ideas related to simulation games, role play, word games, etc. Include articles published in journals aimed at teachers and web pages. Use APA style. For each article include a short abstract or summary.

Scholarly paper assignment

Pick a topic (e.g., games and learning theory, Simulations games and Role play). Write a 20-30 paper summarising the existing research, and drawing wider conclusions from the research read.

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This page maintained by David A Reid, Email: david.reid@acadiau.ca