Building Formative Assessment into Game-Based Learning

TL;DR

Students engage in a game called Galactic Mappers to learn about geography, map-making, and teamwork.

Transcript

Student: Playing games in school is helping me learn better than I ever had before in any other subject in other schools I've been to in my entire life. >>Student: Do we have any more green? >>Student: Where's the key? >>Student: Wait, so how about the top is right here? I'll start like-- >>Student: Wait, are we supposed to do it on this side or ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 Game-based learning, such as Galactic Mappers, can enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in subjects like geography and map-making.
• 🧑‍🎓 Embedded assessments offer a more dynamic and ongoing evaluation of students' knowledge and skills, providing immediate feedback for improvement.
• 🧑‍🎓 Collaborative gameplay fosters teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities among students.
• 👾 The design elements of the game, such as challenges, earning system, and progression, help maintain student interest and motivation.
• 👾 Galactic Mappers expands students' understanding of geography by incorporating physical geography and cartography skills into the game.
• 🤔 The game encourages students to think creatively and consider the possibilities and components of a fictional planet.
• 🧑‍🎓 Students develop map-making skills, such as identifying continents, peninsulas, isthmuses, and other geographical features.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Galactic Mappers help students learn better compared to other subjects?

Galactic Mappers engages students in a game-based learning environment, making learning geography and map-making more enjoyable and interactive. Its combination of teamwork, challenges, and earning system motivates students to actively participate and increases their retention of knowledge.

Q: How does the teacher assess students' progress during the game?

The teacher uses an embedded assessment approach, actively listening to students' discussions, explanations, and map techniques. By observing their depth of knowledge, the teacher assesses their content understanding, application, problem-solving skills, and collaborative abilities.

Q: What skills do students develop through Galactic Mappers?

Students develop map-making skills, knowledge of geography and physical geography, teamwork and collaboration skills, as well as design thinking and systems thinking abilities. The game allows them to apply their knowledge in a practical and creative way.

Q: How does Galactic Mappers encourage students to think beyond map-making?

The discussion phase of the game prompts students to think about maps in a collaborative space and imagine the possibilities of a spot on Earth. It encourages them to design a living, breathing planet, leading them to consider the components and potential of a fictional world.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Students collaborate in teams to create different sections of a large map of the world.

• The game becomes more challenging as students earn more points and aim to develop fully developed continents.

• The teacher assesses students' knowledge and skills through an embedded assessment approach, focusing on content knowledge, application, systems thinking, and design thinking.