Here is my reflection on the session I facilitated around DGBL. Firstly the link to my Elluminate session. I've included the directed framework to help show my thinking process (though I have been told I use the term thinking too loosely by some of my colleagues who have browsed my blog. Anyway enough of the poor attempt at humour...
And that is what I found there beyond the Looking Glass...Reflect (using the three-step framework) on your facilitation. Include the following:
- A one-paragraph summary of the discussion.
Attempted to relate the idea of game based learning to learning areas in school as per PowerPoint. Put out the idea of how games could meet learning objectives while still meeting kids entertainment needs. Showed how a free browser-type game could have educational merit without being time intensive. Gave a quick tour of Travian without getting too carried away with the game itself and focus more on the possibilities of game based learning.
· Points of success: what went right?
The purpose of my presentation was to put forward the possibility of game based learning which I believe I did.
It was good to be able to link actual learning objectives from a secondary school perspective to facets of the game as they added weight to my presentation.
Being able to application share my browser allowed me to show my game to everyone else to help illustrate what I was saying.
- Points of failure: what went wrong?
There was only limited discussion relating to the presentation so I feel that this aspect of the presentation was not a complete success. I feel a little more background preparation (perhaps an email forum discussion) to stimulate thought and discussion prior to Elluminate session could have rectified this.
Just naming some other games that could be used was probably not enough and some slides with at least the names and applications of the games themselves would have been a good idea, as would opening up the discussion to see what other games others are aware of and have them add it to a list on the shared desktop.
- How will these successes and failures influence how you facilitate a similar discussion in the future?
The 10 min lecture format was a great way to present an overview of my ideas, but as a mentioned before I think more facilitation earlier to stimulate the discussion is needed. This could involve simple things like getting feedback on the two articles I put out to stimulate thought and discussion to ensure the participants had some background knowledge of the topic. During the presentation asking more directed questions rather than pausing for interaction could help to stimulate discussion. Following up on the presentation (say a week later) and setting ‘homework’ for participants (like asking for comments to my blog about what you have discovered about DGBL since my presentation) would improve the overall facilitation.
Having a clash with Debbie’s Second Life presentation was not the best organisation on my part which was caused by my procrastinating.
- Reflect on an event that shaped the discussion or a strategy that you used as facilitator.
Two events have shaped my presentation – the first prior to the 10 min Elluminate session and the second during. The first event related to the experience I had participating in Second Life. I found that I was not very engaged and found myself regularly wondering what students would think if put in the same situation. It reminded me of an incomplete RPG game, and seemed to lack the draw of a MMORG like World of Warcraft. I could at least see the point of it all in WoW, with its set tasks/missions, but the point of Second Life eluded (and still does) me. I am not bagging the Second Life phenomena that is riding a big wave of popularity in education circles at the moment, I guess I just can not see the value. This lead to my facilitation session idea.
The second was the fact that there was only limited discussion after my presentation (from my point of view). I had hoped that the group might discuss how it could relate to their work beyond the general 'something to think about'. I was also concerned that I dominated the 'chat' afterwards so did not give enough opportunity for any others to voice their opinions. As I mentioned earlier I see the obvious way to rectify this is by more directed questioning or open ended statements with requests for views on those. I see the best opportunity to do this would be on the summary page I had left blank so that the group could summarise to and potentially add their own summaries that could be collated or even reviewed again at a later period to see if their views have changed or evolved in that time as they investigate on their own.
