Dr. David W. Deeds' presentation for the 2018 Bett MEA (British Educational Training & Technology Middle East & Africa) Conference in Abu Dhabi. Covers Games-Based Learning (GBL) basics plus tips on what to do (and what not to do!) to introduce it to your school.

1. Introducing
GBL to Your
(K-12) School
Bett MEA 2018
ADNEC, Abu Dhabi
David W. Deeds

2. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
Welcome!/ ‫بك‬ ‫أهال‬!
Goals for this presentation:
• Define Games-Based Learning (GBL) and
examine some of its benefits
• Suggest ways of successfully introducing
GBL to your (K-12) school
• Warn against repeating my mistakes!

3. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

4. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
First, introducing Games-Based Learning:
• Simple definition: Teaching something
while the learner is playing a game
• Gamification is implementing game
mechanics in a non-game context
• Lots of overlap, beyond scope here!
• Key to GBL: Defined learning outcomes,
achieved in a familiar/fun/etc. way

5. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

6. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
Next, introducing myself:
• Almost 17 years in education, 50-50 split
between colleges/unis and K-12 schools
• Have introduced GBL to schools in six
different countries…so far!
• Now the Director of Information and
Learning Technologies for Schutz
American School in Alexandria, Egypt

7. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
Amusing (?) anecdote time:
Principal I used to work for told me his
teachers weren’t convinced that GBL is an
effective teaching/learning method.
He asked: “What would you say to these
teachers, David?” And I replied: “I’d say…

8. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

9. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
(Just some) benefits of GBL:
• Kids actually enjoy it (what a concept!)
• Ultimate equalizer, “levels the playing
field” (e.g., for English Language
Learners or Special Needs students)
• Enables learning from mistakes/failures
in a safe (simulated) environment
• Maintains motivation via challenges,
incremental increases

10. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

11. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
(Just some) benefits of GBL:
• Provides “practical” practice of problem-
solving techniques (strategic thinking)
• Progress easily (automatically?) recorded
for formative/summative assessments
• Facilitates collaboration, project/time
management and other real-life skills
• Feedback is immediate and continuous
• Enables differentiation (pacing)

12. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

13. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
So how do you introduce GBL?
• Best to ask forgiveness vs. permission
(i.e., sneak it under the proverbial radar)
• Start with an after-school activity/club
• Sell it as a means of doing a Project
Based Learning or cross-curricular unit
• Lead by example, and word of mouth
will convince everybody else

14. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

15. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
So how do you introduce GBL?
• Different scenarios/roles call for
different strategies/approaches
• If you’re an IT type, start with your
classes and/or your teachers’ classes
• Are you or do you have a Technology
Integrator or Coach?
• Keep in mind that all you have to do is
get it started, GBL will take off!

16. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

17. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
What has worked for me?
• Match game type with lesson goals
(easy with certain computer “games”)
• “Skeleton lesson plans” for assignment
differentiation, autonomy, etc.
• Balance of collaborative and individual
work projects (more teamwork)
• Using native-language interface for ELLs
• Connecting efforts to real-life situations

18. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
What has worked for me?
• Cycles, small inside large, to reinforce
new skills/knowledge
• Projects, never tests, for both formative
and summative assessments
• Same game across grades, challenge
levels (playing communities)
• Make it immersive whenever possible
(why virtual worlds are so wonderful)

19. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

20. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
What has not worked for me?
• Internet games with dodgy connections
• Freebie games that only go up to a
certain level and then require payment
• English-only and/or complicated
interfaces with ELLs
• Assessing without special rubrics (but
don’t obsess over rubric-grade!)

21. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
What has not worked for me?
• Ignoring purpose and “shelf life,” playing
for the sake of it, for too long, etc.
• Trying to fool kids re: objectives (vs. fun)
• Insisting on too much design in advance
• Driving kids crazy with documentation
• Separation by gender (but contests!)
• Assuming, e.g., Creative mode best when
real motivator is FEAR OF DEATH!

22. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School

23. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
Follow my Scoop.it pages!
www.scoop.it/t/3d-virtual-worlds-educational-technology
www.scoop.it/t/integration-and-teaching-ed-tech

24. Introducing GBL to Your (K-12) School
Cartoons by Studio Jonos
studiojonos@gmail.com

25. Thank you!/ ‫لكم‬ ‫شكرا‬!
ddeeds@schutzschool.org.eg
davidwdeeds@gmail.com