ISTE Course of Mind Learning Sims
Snow&Co is thrilled to be working with ISTE (the International Society for Technology in Education) on a series of learning simulations for ISTE’s Community of Mind, their learning sciences initiative.
Bert Snow and ISTE Director of Research Brandon Olszewski will be talking about the sims at the ISTE21 Conference, Wednesday June 30 at 4:30 pm, in an interactive session titled
“When Game-Based Learning and the Learning Sciences Collide”!
The simulations are part of a new online course for teachers, “Launch into Learning Sciences”, that introduces teachers to the latest insights from learning science research, and helps them develop strategies for incorporating those insights to improve results in their classrooms.
In the simulation scenarios, players investigate a fictional classroom where there is a learning issue at play. Then they are challented to use what they know about learning science to improve outcomes.
To do this, they investigate the situations, collecting clues to the issue at hand. Then they interpret the clues, determine the factors involved, and finally put together a set of strategies to address the factors they’ve found.
Players will collect clues to their Clue Map, which they can also use to navigate the scenario. (Art not final).
The introduction sets up what the player will be looking for in the scenario.
Based on what learning science tells us, the player’s choices might improve - or detract from - the learning of the student in the scenario.
While we call them “sims”, the two scenarios might better be described as a mashup between a detective’s case, a comic book, and a strategy card game.
Drawing on comic-book art and narrative approaches. Snow&Co is happy to be working with noted comic author and educator Tyler James, and brilliant comic artist Jules Rivera on the project.
This simulations are complete, and being used in the Course of Mind “Leap into Learning Sciences” course, with strong positive feedback from students so far.
Bert Snow and ISTE Director of Research Brandon Olszewski will be talking about the sims at the ISTE21 Conference, Wednesday June 30 at 4:30 pm, in an interactive session titled “When Game-Based Learning and the Learning Sciences Collide”! Join us!
If you’d like to know more about the project (or help beta test?) drop us a line here!
If you’re intrigued, you can dive into learning science at the Course of Mind website. Through this exciting new initiative, ISTE is creating resources for educators, education leaders, specialists in edtech procurement and educational policymakers who want to make learning more impactful, efficient and inclusive through a deeper understanding of the learning sciences.
Through publications, podcasts, model policy and online courses, Course of Mind seeks to empower educators and leaders to understand how to use the learning sciences to build upon existing teaching practices to more fully realize the power of education for learners of any age.
Snow & Co helps our partners create effective technology solutions that engage learners and improve outcomes. Snow & Co principal Bert Snow is an award-winning designer and leader with a history of innovation in digital learning and game design. Bert works with a network of colleagues to design and develop engaging, effective digital learning experiences that draw on learning science and the strengths of game design while focusing on fitting into learners lives and meeting educators needs.
Tyler James is a comics creator, game designer, educator, and publisher residing in Newburyport, MA. He is the writer and co-creator of THE RED TEN, a superhero murder mystery, EPIC, a superteen action comedy, and TEARS of the DRAGON, a swords and sorcery fantasy. Tyler is the publisher and co-creator of ComixTribe, which is both a new imprint of quality creator owned titles, and an online community where creators help creators make better comics.
Jules is an illustrator, graphic novelist, colorist, animator, and writer, prompting SyFy Wire to call her “a multi-talented force in indie comics.” She contributed to the Eisner Award winning Puerto Rico Strong (Lion Forge) and Ringo Award winning Where We Live, A Benefit for the Survivors in Las Vegas (Image Comics). Jules is the co-creator of Spectre Deep 6, a sci-fi graphic novel series by Turner publishing, Love, Joolz, a weekly autobiographical cartoon strip, Love, Joolz, and feminist sci-fi epic, Valkyrie Squadron.