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=Digital Gaming & Language Learning=

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media type="custom" key="34078" (above presentation given at the [|2007 APAC ELT Convention])

Presentation to be given again at WiAOC2007

This wiki was created to support the **TES****OL EVO** (Electronic Village Online) **2007** session (February-March) on **'Digital Gaming and Language Learning'**. Although the session has no w finished, you are more than welcome to work your way through the 6 week course materials at your own pace.You are also invited to join our [|Game Learning Yahoo Group] and share your comments, reflections, resources with us there and in this wiki (please ask to join) :

Week One : Meet the Players Week Two : Why games? What games? Week Three : Adapting and Integrating Games into the Curriculum Week Four : Massively Multiplayer Online Games Week Five : Creating Your Own Games Week Six : Game Over? What about the Future?

//This session is sponsored by [|TESOL's English as a Foreign Language Interest Section (EFLIS)] &// //[|Computer Assisted Language Learning Interest Section (CALLIS)]//

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//"...we rarely hear accurate descriptions about what it actually// feels like //to spend time in ...virtual worlds. I worry about the experiential gap between people who have immersed themselves in games, and people who have only heard secondhand reports, because the gap makes it difficult to discuss the meaning of games in a coherent way."// //(////Steven Johnson////)//


 * Computer games are now such an important part of our culture, and such an engaging one for so many people, that many teachers have begun to think** it necessary to understand and to experience first hand what it is that makes them so motivating. How can we tap into this and engage our learners in the classroom (or outside of it) ? If you are one of these people, then...


 * ...Welcome to the TESOL EVOnline 2007 'Digital Gaming and Language Learning' workshop!**[[image:evogaming-dummies.png width="1" height="1" align="right" link="EVOproposalbrainstorming"]]

This is our **[|wiki]**, which will be used by participants during the EVO 'Digital Gaming and Language Learning' session to share resources, ideas and links.

We also have a **Yahoo email discussion group** : **[|Game Learning YG]**, where we will be discussing the ideas that come up in more detail.

Outline
The **Digital Gaming & Language Learning** session will run for 6 weeks from **January 15th to February 25th 2007**, and will cover everything from why and how digital games can be used by language teachers, to specifically written for language teaching and learning

You can see the detailed program by clicking on the **Introduction** and the **Weekly Program** links (available from the sidebar)


 * Please note :** This session is a **workshop** and although the moderators have some experience in the field, we are by no means experts. However, it is hoped that everyone share their thoughts, ideas and experience as we go along, adding resources and links to this wiki to help convert it into a useful resource for the future.

=Second Life=

//"If you create a system where rewards are both clearly defined and achieved by exploring an environment, you'll find human brains drawn to those systems, even if they're made up of virtual characters and simulated sidewalks." (////Steven Johnson////)//

Second Life is not a game, but it is one of a number of virtual worlds (or MUVEs) that are based on 3D games and that have gained a lot of attention recently from the educational community principally because of the potential for engaging distance education learners.

We will be offering an optional module examining Second Life during this workshop for those participants who are interested and have the extra time available to explore the potential this virtual world has for language learning.

Over the next six weeks we will be meeting regularly in Second Life, exploring its possibilities, and sharing our findings with each other. We have also invited some special guests who are already working on projects within Second Life to share with us what makes it such an exciting environment.

//If you encounter difficulties in Second Life, please add your questions to the Second Life FAQ (frequently asked questions) page rather than send an email to our Yahoo Group, and we will do our best to answer them// there.
 * Reporting problems**

//Look forward to meeting you all online in the coming weeks,// The Moderators


 * EduNation** is an island sim in Second Life dedicated to teaching and training. Facilities include a Powerpoint seminar room, podcast lounge, videocast lounge and two open and one enclosed classroom spaces. You can also explore the large tropical garden social space in the centre of the island, build in the educational sandbox, advertise your projects in the Gallery and pick up free educational gadgets in the EduShop. Use of all the facilities is free of charge. EduNation is also the proud home of the Webheads in Second Life, and Study.Com. Designed and owned by The Consultants-E ([|www.theconsultants-e.com]), it is available to all educators, whatever you teach. Contact Dudeney Ge in Second Life, or Gavin Dudeney at gavin.dudeney@theconsultants-e .com.


 * English Village** is an island in Second Life dedicated for English teachers and students around the globe. On this island, there are several shared classrooms free to use by any teacher wishing to get acquainted with the virtual world. English Village also provides permanent classrooms that can be rented by teachers who wish to take up a more permanent residency This is a great way to work closely with other English educators online. Eventually, English Village aims to have an island filled with Teachers, 24/7 so that any student interested in learning English, can come, find a teacher, and begin study!

[|Fire Centaur], is the architect, and owner of the village. He will be more than willing to help you get started. email him at: info@eslteacherlink.co.kr for more information.

Fire also has a blog, and website at http://www.eslteacherlink.co.kr/