Leveling Up Your Librarians: Teaching with Videogame Strategies

From TechSource Gaming Symposium

Presenters: Paul Waelchli (St. Norbert College), Jonathan Helmke (University of Dubuque), & Anne Marie Gruber (University of Dubuque)

Description: As more libraries are talking about the value of videogames in our communities, collections, and classrooms, the relevance of gaming in libraries cannot be ignored. The challenge is not in seeing the value of videogames, the challenge is in finding effective and efficient ways to apply gaming into our classrooms and in reference services. Rather than investing thousands of dollars into long-term game development, librarians can start applying gaming strategies in their instruction and services to improve student engagement and learning today.

This workshop will provide a framework of gaming strategies based upon the work of James Paul Gee, Marc Prensky, the Federation of American Scientists, and others to show that the value in gaming is not only in an electronic format, but in how students and players interact with the experiences. This framework parallels much in traditional educational theory and provides librarians an existing base of knowledge to build upon. The participants may already be applying some of these strategies within their libraries. The presenter will help the participants identify and apply these strategies jointly in targeted services or classes to create game-based learning experiences. During the session workshop, participants will work with the workshop leader and other participants to identify and integrate gaming strategies to improve their teaching and services. This focused and practical application of gaming into libraries creates opportunities for librarians regardless of gaming experience to harness the engaging and educational value of videogames.

Librarians are uniquely placed to build on students’ gameplay experiences to create that vital link between game and academic success. This link is created in classroom instruction by using the very same strategies designed into games to engage and motivate players. Librarians can incorporate videogame strategies in reference and instruction to create a relevant and meaningful experience for students. This workshop will allow librarians to start small with targeted gaming strategies, while including traditional outcomes to enhance the learning experiences of students across our campuses.

Intended Audiences:

• Instructional librarians

at

• Academic libraries
• School Libraries

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