1. Alice Conference Duke University June 17, 2009

2. Alka Harriger Purdue University harrigea@purdue.edu

3. Review & Reinforcement “Practice makes Perfect” Review is a recommended method for reinforcing student understanding Tedious and boring, for teacher and student alike

4. Games & Student Learning Games have long been recognized to support student learning Games = Fun Computer games designed  to be read,  to be watched,  to be listened to,  but also to be manipulated in ways the designer/author had anticipated and also had never anticipated.” [Elliot Solloway] Gaming is a way of life

5. Why Alice? Because the resulting virtual worlds can be fascinating and engaging to the learner Because the worlds are relatively easy to create for novices

6. New Challenge How to provide all content-area teachers with games that were easy to edit? The answer needed to unite specific educational content with computer games Create gaming templates.

7. Results Vocabulary Jeopardy Hollywood Squares Foreign Language Bull Fight Basketball Whack-A-Mole Multiple Choice Etc.

8. Space Frogger Based on 2-D, black and white version of Frogger on the old TRS-80. Space Frogger is a new take on that old game  Takes original concept of a frog and lily pads but adds the intrigue of outer space.

9. Strengths Fun activity Can be used in a variety of settings to review any subject matter at any skill level Alice game template is easily manipulated by the teacher No programming experience needed to add content-specific questions and answers

10. Let’s Play Space Frogger Demo

11. Understanding Basic Structure questions List In which century are we? Who is president? 2x=14 x=? Hoy es … etc. ansA List 21st Obama 14 lunes etc. ansB List 20th Bush 2 martes etc. ansC List 22nd Lincoln null miercoles etc. ansD List 2009 Oprah 7 jueves etc. correctAns List A A D C etc. item 0 item 1 item 2 item 3 item 4

12. Adding/Editing Content Questions Demo

13. Conclusions Alice-based game templates is only one of many instructional strategies that today’s teachers may use to combat student indifference during review and reinforcement lessons This teaching strategy is supported by research that shows that games have “considerable success when designed to address a given problem.” [P. Deubel]

14. SPIRIT–Attract People to IT S urprising P ossibilities I magined and R ealized through I nformation T echnology  Purdue University  Supported by a $1.26M NSF grant  Three-year project: January 2008 – December 2010  Programs for HS teachers, HS guidance counselors, and HS students

15. SPIRIT's Goals 1. Correct negative perceptions about IT 2. Let participants try out and create interesting and useful applications of IT 3. Give guidance on what to do now to have a successful career in IT

16. SPIRIT Programs 2-week teacher institute  Week 1  Learn Alice  Develop lessons (containing Alice elements)  Week 2  Instruct students using lessons developed in week 1  Participate in IT-related activities 1-week program for counselors (during week 2 above) 1-week summer camp for students (during week 2 above)

17. For more information about SPIRIT at Purdue University SPIRIT contact  Alka Harriger, SPIRIT PI  Phone: 765.494.2565  FAX: 765.496.1212  Email: harrigea@purdue.eduharrigea@purdue.edu  www.ITPossibilities.org www.ITPossibilities.org

18. Questions/Comments?