Mozilla Open Badges Blog: DigitalMe | Badge Design Canvas
DigitalMe is a non-profit based in Leeds, England that helps young people gain skills and confidence through new technology. They were the only UK winners of the Digital Media & Learning Competition and have proved to be fantastic allies for Open Badges advocacy in Europe (and beyond!)
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Last day of class and just finished pulling the last prints for our screen printing with registration project! So glad that I grew my graphic design program and will have more classes next year :)
![Should we make a #LevelUpBC Guild?
Those of us in the Level Up Book Club community have come together to share our enthusiasm for and knowledge of that new trendy thing called “gamification.” We’ve recognized that adding game elements into our curriculum can help promote student learning, and are searching for the best ways to do just that. (If you’re into gamification and you aren’t part of the LevelUpBC, you should seriously consider it.)
I’d also wager a large percentage of us enjoy playing games in our free time. What I’m wondering is whether or not there’s enough people interested in creating an actual gaming guild out of LevelUpBC members.
For an example of what I’m talking about, let me point you to <Cognitive Dissonance>. CogDis is a World of Warcraft guild founded by Lucas Gillispie and Peggy Sheehy, the same awesome people behind the WoW in School project that I’ve mentioned many times in my own gamification talks.
CogDis’ membership consists primarily of teachers who are also interested in playing games together. In the short time that I was a member of their guild (I no longer play Warcraft) I saw conversations about pedagogy and curriculum alongside gameplay strategies. We were all different people with different play styles, but we had a common love for games (in this case Warcraft) and education that made it a very fun community to be a part of.
I’d like to try for something like that outside of Warcraft, but nothing like this can be done if only one or two people are interested. Here’s the problems I see so far:
Who’s interested? (None of this maters if enough people aren’t interested in trying this idea out. If the numbers are too sparse, than this has been nothing but an amusing writing exercise on my part.)
What games? (Ideally a LevelUp guild would not be limited to a single game. We are a diverse group. Any game with enough of a following amongst LevelUp members could conceivably have a guild chapter. For example: right now I’m playing Neverwinter and City of Steam, which are both free to play. We could theoretically have a guild chapter in both games, as well as others in Rift, Riven, Star Wars, Star Trek or any of the many other MMO games that exist. Many of these follow the “free to play” model, so our teacher level salaries would not be an obstacle.)
What name? (While I’d love to use the <Cognitive Dissonance> name, it is not mine to propose. Simplistically we could just call it <LevelUpBC>, though I’d personally prefer a name that fit more with the genre of the games being played.)
Who would lead the guild(s)? (Most MMOs with guilds require a single character to sign the charter, regardless of whether the guild is run by a committee or not. I’ve been a guild leader in the past It was not a guild full of teachers, and quite frankly there was some drama that burned me out. I would be willing to be a guild leader or officer if needed, but would prefer to join a guild run by someone else.)
How would things be organized? (Most guilds, particularly ones with chapters in other games, need some way to organize and collaborate outside of the game. This could be as simple as a Twitter hashtag or as complex as a forum like the one CogDis uses. I’d prefer simple over complex.)
If you’re interested in this little experiment, send me an email to me at theartguy [at] gmail.com. I’ll share a Google Doc with you where the details can be hammered out.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/ea61bc17bac8fbcd524a66567350b3fd/tumblr_mmyjlfWPTE1qzbj56o1_500.png)
Should we make a #LevelUpBC Guild?
Those of us in the Level Up Book Club community have come together to share our enthusiasm for and knowledge of that new trendy thing called “gamification.” We’ve recognized that adding game elements into our curriculum can help promote student learning, and are searching for the best ways to do just that. (If you’re into gamification and you aren’t part of the LevelUpBC, you should seriously consider it.)
I’d also wager a large percentage of us enjoy playing games in our free time. What I’m wondering is whether or not there’s enough people interested in creating an actual gaming guild out of LevelUpBC members.
For an example of what I’m talking about, let me point you to <Cognitive Dissonance>. CogDis is a World of Warcraft guild founded by Lucas Gillispie and Peggy Sheehy, the same awesome people behind the WoW in School project that I’ve mentioned many times in my own gamification talks.
CogDis’ membership consists primarily of teachers who are also interested in playing games together. In the short time that I was a member of their guild (I no longer play Warcraft) I saw conversations about pedagogy and curriculum alongside gameplay strategies. We were all different people with different play styles, but we had a common love for games (in this case Warcraft) and education that made it a very fun community to be a part of.
I’d like to try for something like that outside of Warcraft, but nothing like this can be done if only one or two people are interested. Here’s the problems I see so far:
- Who’s interested? (None of this maters if enough people aren’t interested in trying this idea out. If the numbers are too sparse, than this has been nothing but an amusing writing exercise on my part.)
- What games? (Ideally a LevelUp guild would not be limited to a single game. We are a diverse group. Any game with enough of a following amongst LevelUp members could conceivably have a guild chapter. For example: right now I’m playing Neverwinter and City of Steam, which are both free to play. We could theoretically have a guild chapter in both games, as well as others in Rift, Riven, Star Wars, Star Trek or any of the many other MMO games that exist. Many of these follow the “free to play” model, so our teacher level salaries would not be an obstacle.)
- What name? (While I’d love to use the <Cognitive Dissonance> name, it is not mine to propose. Simplistically we could just call it <LevelUpBC>, though I’d personally prefer a name that fit more with the genre of the games being played.)
- Who would lead the guild(s)? (Most MMOs with guilds require a single character to sign the charter, regardless of whether the guild is run by a committee or not. I’ve been a guild leader in the past It was not a guild full of teachers, and quite frankly there was some drama that burned me out. I would be willing to be a guild leader or officer if needed, but would prefer to join a guild run by someone else.)
- How would things be organized? (Most guilds, particularly ones with chapters in other games, need some way to organize and collaborate outside of the game. This could be as simple as a Twitter hashtag or as complex as a forum like the one CogDis uses. I’d prefer simple over complex.)
If you’re interested in this little experiment, send me an email to me at theartguy [at] gmail.com. I’ll share a Google Doc with you where the details can be hammered out.
Nintendo chases ad revenue from YouTube content | Game Development | News by Develop
Console giant issues ‘content ID match claims’ on gameplay videos
In which Nintendo ignores the difference between what they’re legally allowed to do and what equals “good business.”
I trust the government to do right by its citizens!
Fonts have personality, as evidenced in this hilarious (though several years old) video.
“Get with the times, New Roman!”
Client: I watched the instructional video you prepared and I am able to add and publish a post. How do I get the new post to appear on the navigation menu?
Me: You watched the video from beginning to end?
Client: Yes.
Me: Okay, scroll to 6:30 on it.
Client: Okay.
Me: The title should read How to Make a New Post Appear
Client: Right.
Me: Now finish watching the video.
I’ve had this conversation with my students.
The first Night of the Arts at my elementary school was a success! This year, the music teacher and I worked to combine the arts into one program. The evening began in the cafeteria with the art exhibit and then concluded in the multipurpose room with the musical performances.
My goal was to transform the large cafeteria into space that felt more intimate and inviting. As soon as the big banners went up, I could feel the room start to change. It was a lot of art to get up in just a few hours after school, but I did manage to get most of it up with the help of a good friend. I had spent two weeks pulling artwork from student folders and two weeks taping art to the butcher paper, always worried that I wouldn’t have enough. I actually had a few extras, even if I had hung the banners on the small wall that I did not get to.
Next year, I want to make sure that all of the large paper is cut evenly and to cut the paper to cover the tables beforehand. I would also like to have one other person help me. I had one friend help me set up this year, but another would make things go a bit faster because it takes two people to hang the large papers.
My principal and the teachers told me that they very impressed, and many parents spoke highly of the night. I really appreciated all of their kind words. One of my goals for my first year teaching was to have an event like this, and it exceeded my expectations. I think that my kids enjoyed it, too, which is most important.
Open Studio Pics:
1. Prints, Symmetry Designs, Cabinet of Curiosities Collages, Still Life Plant Drawings, Tissue Collage
2. Flip Flop Books
3. Tape Paintings
4. Gesso Paintings and Tape Canvas Paintings
5. “Dinosaur Eggs” (tissue and glue over a balloon)
![ambedu:
Just made this plot structure for my 4th graders. I think I am going to model it with our read aloud book and have them complete it using their new lit circle books.
I will post on my TPT [for free] if anyone is interested.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/df74d7981d63a546a43541915f529354/tumblr_mlyze7U0YE1qf2s74o1_r1_500.jpg)
