Dr. Anthony W. Palmer – Gaming and Education: engagement in learning.
I have taught students at every level – elementary, jr. high, high school, and college). Through my research and personal experience, I have found that games are a powerful tool for learning for players of all ages. I earned my doctorate in Educational Leadership at Azusa Pacific University. My dissertation was entitled – Higher Order Thinking Skills in Digital Games. I have presented my research at the annual convention of the California Educational Research Association. In addition to teaching high school students, I also assist other researchers who are working in the field of games and Learning.
Great educational games can help students stay motivated and learn. A great educational game is well designed and informed by learning theory. As I’ve reviewed the literature, I’ve identified hundreds of peer reviewed articles on gaming and education. I will share these articles as well as links to books, games, videos, conferences, and interviews here at Gaming and Education – engagement in learning.
Gaming and Education 
You might be interested in the Indie game developer, Black Chicken Studios: https://www.facebook.com/academagia
Their mission statement says “It is especially our goal to create games wherein challenges can be overcome by study, diplomacy and character.”
Finally, a website that has something critical and intelligent to say about video games! I’ll be coming back.
Hi Anthony, you have asked me question at futurepundit on about asteroids, as I await moderation there ( somehow he decided to filter my comments ) you might contact me by email kurdakovATgmail.com
btw I’m game developer who is interested in educational games, maybe we could chat besides asteroids 😉 if you contact me.
What a great place for digital literacy and learning! I am interested in making educational games, too. I am Ph.D. student at the University of New Mexico. I also teach middle school students and instruct courses at CNM. We should chat as well.
Thanks!
Yes, let’s do that you can reach me apalmer08@APU.edu
Hi Anthony, Thought you might like to know about our new Dementia Learning Centre we launched yesterday http://www.fightdementia.org.au/victoria/serious-gaming-and-dementia-friendly-design-innovation–victoria-takes-the-lead-in-tackling-dementia.aspx
Thanks
Congratulations on the launch of your new Dementia Learning Centre! Thanks for the media release. I posted it today with an article on the topic of video games and the older brain. Best of luck to you on this important work.
Hello Anthony, We launched a curriculum based learning games virtual world called Mapoosa (www.mapoosa.com) – this has Maths and Science games based on topics taught in class, and follows the national curriculum of India (NCERT). Please do check it out.
Nestor,
Thanks for the information on Mapoosa. I will definitely check it out.
Peace,
Anthony
Interesting stuff, Anthony. I think we have similar interests; I am also conducting my dissertation on the effects of gaming in the classroom. To be a bit more specific, I’m developing a 2D MMORPG with a customized writing-based quest system where students complete quests that develop and strengthen writing skills. The teacher is then able to review the essays in-game and award experience points based on writing performance.
I’m planning on using this game to analyze the effects of gaming as a supplemental form of education in the classroom. I outline most of my approaches in my blog areas. Feel free to check ’em out if it sounds like something you might be interested in. I plan on completing the game by second semester (Jan 2015) next year, and conducting the study around the same time.
Mike,
Thanks for the post on your dissertation.
I would love to hear more, as you do your research on gaming in the classroom. I will definitely check out your blog.
Peace, Anthony
Hi Anthony!
I found your blog, and thought our upcoming Kickstarter project might be of interested to you! We’re developing a video game called CodeSpells that teaches kids (and adults) how to code. Players play the role of a wizard and craft spells in Java code!
http://codespells.org
http://www.facebook.com/codespellsgame
Let me know if you’d like more information (e-mail me lindsey[at]thoughtstem[dot]com).
Keep up the good work! We’re all about games & education too.
Thanks, Yes, please send me more information on CodeSpells. I look forward to learning and posting more on your game.
It’s hard to send stuff outside of e-mail, but we’ve also got a software called LearnToMod that teaches kids coding by allowing them to modify the world of Minecraft. I can get you a free access key to try it out if you e-mail me at lindsey[at]thoughtstem[dot]com.
Hi, Anthony. I’m a 7th-12th grade teacher who has been developing gamified curriculum for use in my classroom. You might be interested in my current project, which we just launched a Kickstarter for. It’s called Camera Obscura, and it’s an immersive transmedia alternate reality game designed primarily as a digital photography curriculum, but designed with cross-curricular application in mind. Here’s the Kickstarter link:
And here’s our blog, which is still fairly new:
https://cobehindthescenes.blogspot.com
One of the coolest parts of our project is that production is a collaboration among teachers, media professionals, and students. I’ve subscribed to your site and I’m looking forward to hearing how your dissertation turns out.
Thanks,
Adam
Hi Anthony,
I thought you might be interested in our recent article ‘Deconstructing Candy Crush: what instructional design can learn from game design’ from Emerald’s International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, which reveals how the strategies of Candy Crush can be embedded into course design to help motivate students.
We’ve produced an infographic inspired by this research which you can see on the dedicated promo page here: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/promo/crush.htm
Thanks,
Dawn
Hello, I work with a non-profit and am doing research on a potential project that would utilize games to create a variety of customized skills. Education and curriculum development is my area of expertise, but I’m looking for a community of developers who would want to join me in this endeavor. I thought that it would be wise like to put a team together and some concepts before seeking grants. Are there any online communities of game developers that that you would recommend?
This is a great site, but youve not posted since August 2015, don’t give up on it!
You might find this new advanced materials physics puzzle game interesting:
Hi Anthony, have you checked out Blueapprentice.com? Great STEM game recently launched. Would love your thoughts on it.
HI Anthony
I thought you might be interested in Holyoake®’s new program DRUMBEAT Quest.
DRUMBEAT Quest® is based on our worldwide DRUMBEAT® program. It is one of the first computer games designed as a counselling tool for young people with social and emotional learning issues.
Unlike most educational computer games, DRUMBEAT Quest® encourages face to face interaction with counsellors or educators, as well as other players, as part of the learning process. This avoids the potential of further isolating individuals through sole reliance and over involvement with the computer game itself.
This game is not constructed just as an education tool, but rather designed as an engaging computer game. It will allow the player to make natural choices that then serve as the basis for discussion and self-reflection under the guidance of a trained counsellor or facilitator. The situations confronting the player in the game are linked to real life scenarios and the story line is designed to allow for a wide range of social issues to be explored.
Our website is http://www.drumbeatquest.com and a video of the game can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihZttMJF_AY
HI Anthony
I thought you might be interested in Holyoake®’s new program DRUMBEAT Quest.
DRUMBEAT Quest® is based on our worldwide DRUMBEAT® program. It is one of the first computer games designed as a counselling tool for young people with social and emotional learning issues.
Unlike most educational computer games, DRUMBEAT Quest® encourages face to face interaction with counsellors or educators, as well as other players, as part of the learning process. This avoids the potential of further isolating individuals through sole reliance and over involvement with the computer game itself.
Visit my website to get world hottest game: https://modapky.com/dragon-city-breeding-guide-how-to-breed-a-legendary-dragon/
This game is not constructed just as an education tool, but rather designed as an engaging computer game. It will allow the player to make natural choices that then serve as the basis for discussion and self-reflection under the guidance of a trained counsellor or facilitator. The situations confronting the player in the game are linked to real life scenarios and the story line is designed to allow for a wide range of social issues to be explored.
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