Get Your Game On in Instruction

Abstract

Author Zora Neale Hurston said that "Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” The same could be said about video games, where a gamer explores new and unfamiliar areas, asks questions along the way, consults with outside resources to help understand the objective, learns new things, gains experience, and collaborates to achieve the prize at the end. In this presentation, Robin and Rachel discuss how gaming strategies can be applied to both in-classroom and online library instruction, and how these strategies can help retain students' attention as well as enhance their learning experience. They will discuss how the strategies used within the research process are remarkably similar to the strategies of gamers. The presenters will also highlight several academic libraries successfully incorporating games and gaming concepts into instruction through inexpensive or free open-source technologies. Should you choose to view this session, you will gain +10 to your toolbox of gaming resources, +15 to your ability to connect with students, +10 to your gaming strategies knowledge, and +5 to your creativity.