What Teaching Needs Now!

When I proudly declared I wanted to go into education, after my senior year of high school, I thought I was doing it for all of the right reasons. I wanted to give back to society, and the impact that education had on me growing up, the goal was to educate the youth and help them find their path. Then after 14.5 years in the classroom, I transitioned into higher education and an administrative role. My impact on education has grown tenfold what I had as a classroom teacher, and I always want to support the efforts of those in the classroom. The Secondary Schools Team at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a dynamic group of exemplary professionals who are continually supporting high school teachers and students in the very thing I wanted to do as a teacher, help students develop a path.

Teachers need to pivot, in an age where information is readily available at your fingertips, and people can find massive amounts of information at any given time. We need fewer standardized tests for rote memorization, we need more time to collaborate and build engaging authentic lessons with our peers, and we also need time to reach students where they are. ChatGPT has shown that AI can help us use algorithms to find and write in detail. AI can be used to spark creativity and learning how to navigate new platforms is especially important for all learners. The moral implications should also be explained, in that the individual's creative rights are important, and so too is the advancement of knowledge use.

Made with AI Comic Factory

Gone are the days of needing to know absolutely everything by memory. Now we need confidence in finding the correct processes. So, to fix say an outlet you should be able to find DIY information, with skilled professionals who are not going to cut corners, but make you able to fix something simple up to the correct code. AR glasses can be used by technicians to facilitate fixing machines and wiring within a manufacturing plant. (See Vuzix: Field Service Glasses)

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels: Link Here

Education needs to adapt and become the problem-solving, critical-thinking, confidence-building vehicle behind all modern industry changes. Multiple-choice, standardized tests, are a thing of the past. Absorbing and analyzing information in a digestible format makes learning so much easier. During a webinar I attended in 2017, a presenter stated that human beings are visual learners. Hence, learning from videos or images broken down into steps helps us learn more quickly. Reading and interpreting a text is a learned behavior, and although some are successful that way, not all learners can learn processes through reading alone. Another book I just read, Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, gave multiple case studies on how learners who had multiple points to recall information in short assessments or self-questioning, learned material better. Teachers need to practice new quick learning and recall skills with students and get rid of re-reading until they understand practices. Practical use of knowledge is how recall becomes long-term and useful. 

One tool that resonates with me personally is the use of scholastic esports. Gaming to learn, gamification, game design, competitive gaming matches, and setting up intermural and external esports tournaments are all great pathways where games can be used to leverage learning. Students can think critically, use problem-solving skills, collaborate, and build leadership skills all in scholastic esports programs. Students don't have to be great gamers either to get into the space, there are support roles that are highly needed, and when developed can be used in a multitude of careers in the future, including social media and marketing. Education needs to embrace gaming and tools like it for teaching students. Scholastic uses of games can help connect to students who might have a harder time connecting with their learning. 

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Why Video Games?

This week was William Penn's 2022 Senior Graduation Ceremony. I also experienced my first ever Harrisburg University Graduation Ceremony. I enjoy seeing my students showcasing their success, and watching the speeches they get to make. But as I have been reflecting a lot lately, and looking back on my teaching career, I go back to why I think video games are useful tools, and where could I find inspiration to hook students with the content I link to gaming. There is one story in particular that helped me realize the power that gaming with students had. 

WP Graduation Speeches C/O 2022

Knockout City Team Spring 2022 - Honorary Polo Given to Me!

As Graduation of 2015 was ending, we all processed out of the auditorium and deposited our caps and gowns back into the rental pile. It was the first one I volunteered to attend and help as a teacher, volunteering, to direct the aisle of students who sat next to me. As I was dropping off my own cap and gown used in the commencement I heard a student calling my name, "Mr. Gibson, Mr. Gibson! I really want you to come to meet my mom!" Of course, I couldn't say no to the excitement in the voice, of this one student, with having me meet his mother. As we both navigated the sea of parents, friends, and family in the lobby, we finally stood in front of his mother, the student promptly said, "Mom! This is Mr. Gibson, the teacher I have been telling you about!" His mother began sobbing and reached out to embrace me, and through her tears of joy I heard her say, "Thank you so much for helping my son Graduate!"

In the Library ready fo C/O 2015 Graduation!

After a long embrace I looked at my student and had a puzzled look on my face, he responded with, "Man, I was going through some rough times in the middle of this school year, and you pushed me to do better!" I had this student the year before, and when I saw his report card in my class, I just said "Come on man, I know you are smarter than this!" We also had another shared connection, in comparing characters and progress in the mobile version of Injustice. We shared a connection through gaming, he would also stay after for game club sometimes to talk video games or ask for help in another class. This rapport led me to be able to say something when he wasn't performing at a level that I knew he could. I knew he could do better and I believed in him. That was what he needed to push through and get his diploma. I had no idea he was in need, but I was able to help regardless. 

Video Game Club circa 2019!

Throughout my entire career I know I have helped numerous students and made connections with gaming, but this moment is one that will always stick with me. I was amazed by the connection this student had with me, and how much one little act of caring could stick with a student. He and I are still in communication to this day, and I couldn't be prouder of the young man he became! Video games are more than entertainment, they are a way to connect with other human beings, and I have also researched and developed, ways to learn from video games. 

Finding Inspiration in the Gaming Industry

Reasoning

Ever wonder what's out there in the gaming industry? What about esports? Where are the people who look like you? How many women or BIPOC or LGBTQ+ people are represented in the industry? If you look you may see, much like other white-collar professions in the U.S., the industry of video games is dominated by white men, but they aren't the only ones playing games! Demographics for gamers are much more diverse than the professionals who are making the games. So where do we look for diverse student inspiration?

In the book, The Esports Education Playbook: Empowering Every Learner Through Inclusive Gaming, Bradford Harris, a NASEF Fellow, is quoted as saying, "I am really big on making sure I expose as many Black and brown children to esports as possible because it's not being seen. That's the reason I jumped into it (esports in education). So every time I go somewhere, I start asking those hard questions." 

The demographics of the esports and gaming realm are not what I see on a day-to-day basis as an educator. I see many BIPOC students and want them to see themselves in a growing future with technology. So I had to go searching and find inspiration, representation, and career options for the gaming industry.

How can this help others?

Educators have to dig, sift, and vet content with BIPOC, female and LGBTQ+ representation. Here is what I have used as career exploration tools, that help showcase their students represented in the medium. Many of the videos I found were accompanied by a Google Form or a Google Doc as a journal, to reflect on the learning and opportunities in the gaming industry. 

With 53% of my high school population in the Latinx demographics, I really wanted to help my students learn about the industry and where they can find room for themselves. Use the following links to help showcase panels and people in the Latinx community working in games:

Latinx in Gaming GDC 2018

Learn more about the panels’ work!

Edgar Serrano: Lienzo Studios

Daniel Monastero: Garage 227 Studios

Andro Miralrio: Keywords Studios

Gracie Arena Strittmatter: EA Gracie Intro

In the Know: Latinas in Gaming

Our African American population is 35% and they deserve to see themselves represented as well. Find BIPOC representation with these links:

1st Black Owner of Game Development Company

Gaming for Everyone: Blacks in Gaming GDC Feature

Other demographics are important too! Asian representation in gaming links:

NASEF: Careers in Esports - Team Manager, Andrew Kim

Where are the women? The number of girls in any program is much lower than some demographics, and they deserve a spot at the PC. Not just as support either! Women in gaming links: (Also look at the Latinx community!)

Esports Explore - Esports Journalist Women in Gaming

Gaming can make a better world | Jane McGonigal

Studying Esports in the UK

Some great interviews for more learning. We need to inspire, and share stories and successes of those who came before: 

Esports Explore - Content Creators

Esports Explore - Game Designer

BIPOC Entrepreneurs   

While driving, I listened to some podcasts and found The Toys & Tech of the Trade Episode 35, which highlighted an interview with Sebastian "Chosen1" Burton. The interview led to an interesting conversation with Sebastian about his work in esports since the age of 19. I was enthralled by his story and reached out to him after looking up his esports company, Gold Standard Gaming. Through a lot of conversations with my principal, I finally got Sebastian to Zoom into our school and speak to students in the Cybercats and my Exploration of Game Design courses. Finding BIPOC Entrepreneurs was a dream come true, and having students chat with Sebastian was an amazing experience. Mr. Burton spoke about his experiences in the industry, gave some life lessons in perseverance, and then discussed actionable steps students could take today to leverage their social media and graphic design skills to help launch a career in anything!

Final Thoughts

Finding inspiration and diversity in the gaming field can be daunting, and searching through hours of footage is a must if you want your students to feel represented. I know I am lacking in some demographics, as I only have one video showcasing a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and I welcome any advice in the comments. My students, our students, deserve to see themselves in the game industry!

Infusing Learning with Among Us!

 Using Games in the Classroom

With over 350 million copies downloaded worldwide, it's no wonder Among Us has become popular in the education realm. Educators have created engaging Google Slides to incorporate everyone's favorite cooperative game! Knowing this, I just had to try it in my classroom. I would like to say this game may not be appropriate for all levels, as it has an ESRB Rating of 10+, because of cartoon violence and in-chat messaging. 

After being inspired by another NASEF Fellow, Angelique Giana (Edutopia Article), and her lesson on persuasive arguments in the classroom while using Among Us!, I thought I can do this in my SAT Prep Course! And of course, carving out time in my Exploration of Game Design course was a no-brainer. Using Ms. Gianas' slide show I talked about persuasive arguments and framed the game as a learning and practicing guide. For SAT Prep, we used SAT words instead of the common names for places in the game. The Med-Bay became the Infirmary, Weapons became the Armory, a corner in the walkway became a Juxtapoint. 

Ideas for other Classes: 

Spanish, French, or any Foreign Language Class - Introduce Colors in Espanol have players play while speaking only in Spanish or French or any other foreign language, create prompts and questions to type or speak out loud if virtual on Zoom. 

EL Class - Engage your English language learners to create a safe space to practice asking questions for certain experiences, "Where is the cafeteria?" etc. 

Computer Science: Build the game around the Imposter being a bug in a game. And the crewmates are the coders who need to fix the bug. Once the game is introduced and the map decided upon, students can draft pseudocode to communicate where the imposter has struck and then all communication in the game has to be written in the pseudocode, until the coders lose or the bug is fixed. Another fun practice is to have students create their own pseudocode for communicating in the app during gameplay. Students could collaboratively create a pseudocode list, to figure out how to ask simple questions, like locate(body) and locate(color) to ask where a character who had died was found.  

CS: This could also include working out a UML chart for a character. Then dive into the characteristics of each student's player creation. Then play out the game for some in-class fun. Build mods in this CS Lesson by Jeffrey Wile, and have students practice coding!

The Plan

The game is played with 10 players at a time, so in large classes, student leaders will have to be chosen to create a lobby and share the code with students in their group. While in a remote learning setting, sending students into break-out rooms can help create a private discussion area while students play. You can have them chat in the game or un-mute and discuss who they think is the Imposter during the game. 

In Hybrid online students can set up a lobby and play while in class students can do the same. If you have an off-number students in the class can play with those online as well to keep all engaged.

In-person you can break students into teams of 10 to play with a student leader. 

Make sure all students agree on the stage settings and have downloaded the game on their mobile devices. If there is a lag between games, remember that some students will and should opt for the free version download on mobile platforms, which requires a video to play between each game.

Reflection

With using Among Us during a remote learning setting I had more participation than I could have ever asked for! Students were attending those days in record numbers and playing together and with me. The gameplay was engaging and gave us all a good laugh. It connected us and bonded us as a class in the virtual environment. Many times students would come in and ask if we could play again, so I would say it was a hit! It was just like Heads-Up 7-Up, from my elementary days!