Main Idea
Students learn how to collaborate in a game-based learning environment. Specifically, they play “Village Voices” game. Each player of this game is assigned a particular character to play (the alchemist, the carpenter, the blacksmith or the innkeeper). There are four characters and for this reason four computers are needed to play the game that are connected to the same game server. Players take various actions in the village and they should exchange their possessions with other players in order to survive. While playing they can express their feelings about the trials and for the actions of other players. As all the characters of the game are interdependent situations often arise that lead to conflicts with the players responsible for determining how to manage them. The successful completion of the game is achieved through cooperation with other players and with the completion of their trials. After the gameplay session students present their experience regarding the game in class and discuss about the issues that occurred while playing with their classmates. Students through the game and the discussion realize the importance of collaboration and understand how we can collaborate with others.
| Creator | Dimitra Dimitrakopoulou |
| Subject | Greek Language, Computer Science |
| Length | 80 minutes |
| Pedagogical Approach | Technology assisted learning, Real life |
| Competences | Problem solving, Decomposition |
| Grades | Primary school, 5th grade, students with no special needs |
| Technologies | Village voices game |
Description
Introduction (Game instructions): Τeacher explains the game to students. (15 minutes)
Gameplay Session: Students play the game and the teacher observes them. Students work autonomously and the teacher intervenes only when students need clarifications about the rules of the game. (30 minutes)
Post- Game Activities:
Worksheets-Discussion 1: Students present their answers of the first five questions of the worksheets in class. Afterwards, the teacher refers to real life situations and motivate students to present their thoughts in class. (10 minutes)
-What doctors (blacksmiths, innkeepers, carpenters, bakers etc.) offer in our society?
– What would happen if there were no doctors (blacksmiths, innkeepers, bakers etc.) in our society?
Worksheets-Discussion 2: Students are encouraged to present their feelings during the gameplay in class. (10 minutes)
-Did you enjoy the game?
-What did you like more about the game?
-Did you feel sad or frustrated even once while playing?
-How many of you felt happy when you received help from your teammates?
-Did you expect others to return the help you offered to them?
-How did you feel when they deceived you?
-How did your classmates feel about you when you deceived or steal from them? etc.
Worksheets-Discussion3: Students should be encouraged to present their answers of the worksheets regarding the collaboration in class and freely talk about collaboration. (15 minutes)
-What were the strategies used to complete the quests?
-What type of consequences were you involved in?
-Did you manage to collaborate with your classmates?
-Did you face any difficulties collaborating /cooperating with your classmates?
-What helps a collaboration?
-What makes a collaboration difficult?
Worksheets-Discussion3: Students should be encouraged to present their answers of the worksheets regarding the collaboration in class and freely talk about collaboration. (15 minutes)
-What were the strategies used to complete the quests?
-What type of consequences were you involved in?
-Did you manage to collaborate with your classmates?
-Did you face any difficulties collaborating /cooperating with your classmates?
-What helps a collaboration?
-What makes a collaboration difficult?
Worksheets
Α.
- What does every character offer in the village?
- What would happen if there was no carpenter in the village?
- What would happen if there was no alchemist in the village?
- What would happen if there was no blacksmith in the village?
- What would happen if there was no innkeeper in the village?
B. Describe your feelings during the game play session.
C. Did you manage to collaborate with your classmates while playing the game?
D. What helped your cooperation with your classmates and what made your cooperation more difficult?