Thursday, February 26, 2009

Playschool: games as learning environments


I recently read (on Constance Steinkuehler's blog about a new school programme being launched in the US, Quest 2 Learn.

"Quest supports a dynamic curriculum that uses the underlying design principles of games to create highly immersive, game-like learning experiences for students. Games and other forms of digital media also model the complexity and promise of “systems.” Understanding and accounting for this complexity is a fundamental literacy of the 21st century."

It's being setup by the Institute of Play, an organisation to "promote gaming literacy: the play, analysis, and creation of games, as a foundation for learning, innovation, and and change in the 21st century."

I think we need an EU equivalent!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Creativity and innovation at the eTwinning conference

The eTwinning conference took place over 13-15 February in Prague, Czech Republic. Here are a few video messages from teachers and students taking part in eTwinning. You can also take a look at the team blog that we put together with volunteer teachers.