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Module 1: Digital Education: The Myths and Facts
- Video Overview of Module 1
- Learning Objectives
- Map Your Digital Day Activity
- How digital tools support the typical characteristics of adult learners
- ACTIVITY- Download Discover’s “Typical characteristics of Adult learners” and see which traits apply most to YOUR students!
- ACTIVITY- Download Quiz and use Kahoot to turn it into an interactive quiz for your participants!
- Lesson Activity Part 1- Group Research Exercise Using Diigo!
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Module 2: Digital Inclusion: How the Design and Use of Digital Technology Can Promote Equality in Education
- Video overview of Module 2
- Learning Objectives
- What is digital inclusion, why is it important?
- How can we promote digital inclusion?
- ACTIVITY: Download Digital Inclusion Case Study Guide
- TRUST- Overcoming the phycological barriers of the digital world
- MOTIVATION-Supporting Adult learners driven by a specific purpose!
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Module 3: Innovative teaching...resources and practices that enhance learning and teaching!
- Video Overview of Module 3
- Module 3’s downloadable learning objectives
- Why do we need Innovative teaching methods?
- The role of the educator
- The flipped classroom teaching method!
- Problem based learning as an innovative teaching method!
- Jigsaw technique as an innovative teaching method!
- Inquiry based learning as an innovative teaching method!
- ACTIVITY: Download DISCOVER’s learner feedback worksheet!
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Module 4: Mobile Learning
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Module 5: Games and learning
- Video summary of Module 5
- Module 5’s Downloadable learning objectives
- Introduction to Game based learning
- The Advantages and disadvantages of game-based learning
- Game based learning in practice- how to get started!
- Examples of Adult learning games!
- Lesson Activity Part 2 – Group Presentation Activity using Powtoon
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Module 6: Learning Spaces AND Collaborative virtual environments
Game based learning in practice- how to get started!
Given the current times we are in where there is limited amount of good news, now presents a perfect time to interject a bit of fun and light hearted learning into the classroom through an exciting form of education via game-based learning! Game based learning can take place both in class and online.
If game-based learning is a new concept to you as an educator, then we suggest you first introduce game-based learning with your students in person with a few traditional and well-known educational games. Once you have introduced the idea of learning through games to your students, then you can move onto to game-based learning via digital methods.
Next step, try a digital game!
Now that you have the knowledge and insight into what game-based learning looks like offline and have a sense of what your learners think of this approach, then you can move onto games through a digital means. In the Activity below we have selected 4 of the easiest and on trend tools for you to try out and implement in your game-based teaching delivery.
ACTIVITY-Download DISCOVER’s “Best Online Tools for game-based learning” perfect for your ONLINE training, and again so easy to introduce!
ACTIVITY– Read the “Using Game-Based Learning Online – A Cookbook of Recipes”
In this “cookbook”, an interdisciplinary panel of experts offers recipes for integrating different types of game-based learning activities in the context of remote teaching. An overview of game-based learning strategies will be provided, including trivia games, escape games, co-operative games, crossword puzzles, and more.
Step # 1 Decide Why and How You Plan to Use the Game
As with most educational practices, the why and the how should come before the what. Don’t begin the process by looking for a game to play, begin by asking yourself why you’re using the game in the first place. What do you hope to accomplish? How will the game help you achieve your goals?
Step # 2 Narrow your search by first deciding how you want to use the game
Introduction- Many educators use an easy, quick game to introduce a new topic at the beginning of a lesson. These kinds of games make great digital bellringers for your class, piquing the learners’ curiosity before the lesson begins. Using tools like Kahoot or Quizlet allows you to provide daily challenges or quizzes, that change content for each new topic.
Do you have a learner or a group of learners who are struggling with a core concept? You may consider using some targeted game time to strengthen the learners’ skills. Choose digital games that are easy to access at home as well, so students can get extended practice.
Enhancement- If you feel your entire class is comfortable with the concept you’re teaching, bring in a game that presents the material through different, interactive media. For example, you may choose a game that poses questions and challenges through music, video or images. Online scavenger hunts, multimedia quizzes, online simulations, and ongoing challenges are all great ways to engage your students and enhance your lessons.
Review-Make game-based learning a whole class activity or a group activity by using games to review and reinforce learning. Resources like Kahoot! even export review results so educators can use the games as a formative assessment.
Step #3 Choose a Game That’s Not Too Complicated—Or Create One!
The last thing you want to do is spend so much time explaining the rules of the game that you confuse your learners or lose their interest. After all, one of the main benefits of game-based learning is increased engagement; you’ll miss out on this benefit completely if you overcomplicate things.
Game play should be simple and straightforward, whether you’re using a physical game or a digital game. The challenging part of the game should be the content itself, not trying to figure out how the game works. For digital games, make sure that the interface is intuitive for your learners.
One of the best ways to make sure that a game isn’t too complicated for your learners is to play it yourself a couple of times before you introduce it to the class. Playing the game, yourself will also enable you to better answer any questions that your students may have.
Step #5 Provide opportunities for feedback, discussion and collaboration
If you are introducing the game via an online/virtual classroom setting, it is advisable to use video conferencing tools that has the function of a centralized chat so educators can answer learners’ questions live in real time, as well as the decentralised chat function where break out rooms allows students to discuss in smaller groups e.g. Zoom.
Use of a learning management system such as Moodle to allow students to communicate their decisions/actions in the game to the teacher could be useful.
