Modern Board Games and the 21st Century Learner

Modern Board Games

Why Board Games?

• Games are instructional materials that support curriculum.

• Board games have very little stigma associated with them.

• Board games strengthen information literacy skills.

Board Games Offer…

• Variety of new challenges.

• Opportunity for creative problem solving.

• Support for overcoming failure.

• Born with a chip?• Trophy kids• Direct• Smarter • Healthier• More liberal• More conservative• Well-balanced

Millennials

The Gamer Generation

• Social• Competitive• Wired• Self-aware• Always On

• Heroic• Multi-taskers• Global• Collaborative• Risk Takers

Beck, John and Mitchell Wade. Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever. Harvard Business School Press, 2004.

AASL Learning Standard 1

• Inquire, think critically and gain knowledge

AASL Learning Standard 2

• Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge

AASL Learning Standard 3

• Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society

AASL Learning Standard 4

• Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.

Choosing Games

• Authenticity• Curriculum Alignment• Time• Return on Investment

Budget: Start with FREE Stuff

• Borrow.• Ask for donations.• Find a host.

Budget: Start with USED Stuff

• Purchase games at yard sales.

• Purchase used games online.

Budget: Start SMALL

• Share.• Partner.• Buy just a few titles.• Purchase multiple

copies for instructional sessions.

Budget: Cost

For tabletop gaming materials, plan to spend…• $8-15 for card games• $15-65 for board games

Budget: Vendors

• Direct from publisher, like Looney Labs, Fun Again Games, or and Days of Wonder.

• Local toy, game or hobby store.• Online retailers like Amazon.com.• National retailers like Wal*Mart or Toys ‘R’

Us.

Resources• AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner.

www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/standards.cfm

• Board Game Geekwww.boardgamegeek.com

• Board Game Newswww.boardgamenews.com

• Board Game Studies www.boardgamestudies.info/studies/

Resources

• Board Games with Scotthttp://boardgameswithscott.com

• Game Finder www.gamesforeducators.com

• Genesee Valley BOCES. Gaming http://sls.gvboces.org/gaming/

• Library Gamer http://librarygamer.wordpress.com

More Resources

• Librarian’s Guide to Gaminghttp://librarygamingtoolkit.org

• ALA Gaming sitehttp://gaming.ala.org

• National Gaming Dayhttp://www.ilovelibraries.org/gaming/

Model Programs

Max

Pictureka! National Gaming Day, 2008

Ancient Civilizations Elba Central School District, Elba, NY

Power GridLetchworth Central School, Gainesville, NY

1960: The Making of the PresidentOakfield-Alabama Middle-High School Media

Center, Oakfield, NY

Scrabble ClubWoburn Public Library, MA

Monopoly TournamentPublic Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County, SC

Ace of GamesKellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier VT

Thank You!

Contact:• Beth Gallaway• 603-247-3196• informationgoddess29@gmail.com• http://informationgoddess.info