At LGN, we believe that learning games are a wonderful way to extend and build on what students learn in the classroom. Our goal is to develop and help others produce more more of these valuable new learning experiences and provide resources for more teachers to use in their toolkits. Research (Squire et al. 2004 and Aldrich 2009) shows that game play can improve retention and raise test scores. The motivational effect of well chosen games can inspire, simulate experiences, provide meaningful visual stimuli or new ways to apply learning, while creating an emotional involvement and heightened interest in curricular subjects.
Our mission at the Learning Games Network is to:
- Develop games that have a distinctly educational function, while maintaining entertainment value;
- Demonstrate a demand to the game production industry for games that possess educational value;
- Work with teachers to facilitate the learning value of games that may already exist; and
- Work with students and teachers to bring them into the process of creating and utilizing learning games.
In September we introduced our Design Corps, through which students have the opportunity to learn in virtual workshops with game designers and developers, test-play learning games still in development, and provide input into the development process.
In early 2010, we plan to launch the Teachers Professional Learning Community, which will in many ways mirror and work in tandem with the Design Corps. The PLC will provide a forum for teachers to share experiences and ideas for using existing games in the classroom, as well as discuss ideas and concepts for where games could fill gaps and niches in curricula. Teachers involved in technology will also have the opportunity for professional development in workshops with developers and producers. And ultimately, we hope that the Teacher PLC will provide mentors and 'chapter advisors' for local and regional groups of students in the Design Corps.
Please take a moment and fill out this brief questionnaire to tell us more about yourself and your interests in learning games and help us stay in touch with you as we prepare to launch the Professional Learning Community. Feel free to pass this information on. We hope to build the PLC into a thriving community of teachers, sharing ideas and demonstrating the need and demand for effective learning games!
