Reading more than books: games

Michelle Treagust

Chatabout Network Day8 October 2010

Overview

• Use of digital technologies to engage new readers

• Focus on gaming and reading• Exploring reading in games• How to find out more

Access to digital text

Source: www.mobile-financial.com

Why is The Reading Agency interested in digital text?

• We inspire people to read more because we believe reading changes lives.

• We believe in the broader definition of reading – all types of text, including that in digital formats and games.

• We promote ‘reading for pleasure’ – reading that is dictated by individual choice, fiction & non-fiction. Just as are the use of digital platforms.

• Earlier in the year we published a report: Gaming for reading: a feasibility study on the use of video games to engage adults with low literacy in reading for pleasure

Gaming for reading report - findings

• Digital technologies are having a significant beneficial impact on learners.

• Readability assessment of games shows the majority to be accessible to Entry Level 3 to Level 1 adult readers.

• Positive attitude to games from practitioners.• Opportunity for developers and publishers to

work together to reach new audiences.

Gaming industry

• Nearly 75% of the British public play games regularly.

• World’s largest entertainment industry – sales of games increasing 20% per year.

• FarmVille has over 82 million users signed up.• Developers are targeting a wider demographic.• Video games have moved from the back room

into the family room.• Publishing industry are exploring gaming with

turning books into games.

A game or a book?

Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gew68Qj5kxw

A book or a game?

Source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnBrDDlgNRk

What reading skills do you need for games?

Please stand up

Question 1

What is the first instruction?

• A: Touch the knife slowly and evenly to chop the onion.

• B: Touch the knife quickly to chop the onion.

Question 1 – answer A - fail!

Question 1 – answer B - win!

Source: Cooking Mama Ltd. (2009). Cooking Mama. iOS. Europe: Taito

Question 2

Source: http://www.gamestracker.com/int/screenshot.asp?iid=51009

Question 2

How many syllables in:

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

• A: 8

• B: 9

Question 2 – answer A win!

Correct answer is A:

Know-ledge speaks, but wis-dom list-ens.

• A: 8 ✔

• B: 9 ✗

Question 3

You own all the properties in the red colour group on Monopoly: The World Edition, which includes New York. You want to buy 2 houses, how much will it cost you?

• A: 2.5m

• B: 3m

Question 3 – answer B - win!

Source: Hasbro Inc. (2009). Monopoply Here & Now: The World Edition. iOS. Europe: Electronic Arts

Question 4

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giN0nu0ssyY

Question 4

What are the opening lyrics to The Beatles’ song Get Back?

• A: Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a woman

• B: Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner

• C: Jo Jo was a man who thought he was an owner

Question 4 - answer

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKhdQAac5Zo

Question 5

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3M-3T5oXh8

Question 5

Later in the movie, how does Edward explain his ability to stop the van?

• A: Telekinesis

• B: He had an adrenaline rush

• C: He’s bionic

• D: Working out

Question 5 – answer B win!

Later in the movie, how does Edward explain his ability to stop the van?

• A: Telekinesis

• B: He had an adrenaline rush ✔

• C: He’s bionic

• D: Working out

Question 6

Source: http://in10words.wordpress.com/2008/11/10/

Question 6

Ten candles stand burning in a dining room. A strong breeze blows in through an open window and extinguishes two of them. Checking back in on the candles later, you see that one more candle has gone out. To make sure no more flames go out, you shut the window. Assuming the wind doesn’t extinguish anymore candles, how many candles do you have left in the end?

Question 6

• A: 3

• B: 7

• C: 9

• D: 10

Source: http://professorlaytonwalkthrough.blogspot.com/2008/02/puzzle015.html

Question 6 – answer A win!

• A: 3 ✔

• B: 7

• C: 9

• D: 10

Source: http://professorlaytonwalkthrough.blogspot.com/2008/02/puzzle015.html

Next steps• Carry out further research into this area to

develop guidelines for practitioners – partnered with a HE institution.

• Partner with a provider to carry out action research.

• Work with a games developer or publisher to make a digital Six Book Challenge.

• Encouraging people to join in the debate.

Find out more

Report:www.readingagency.org.uk/adults/gaming-for-reading/

Forum:www.readingagency.org.uk/new-thinking/forum/

Twitter: @readingagency #gaming4reading

Newsletter: www.readingagency.org.uk/sign-up/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/readingagency

Redefining reading material

Michelle Treagust

Chatabout Network Day8 October 2010

Overview

• Defining reading• Introduction to First Choice Books website• Reviewing FCB book criteria

First Choice Books

Redefining criteria

• Include a wider range of texts• Materials suitable for Entry Level 1 – 2 readers• Digital texts• Other texts; magazines, newspapers, audio

books, graphic novels, print media etc.• And more?

Brief

• Split into groups• Collect a box of materials• Introduce yourselves• Browse the reading materials and discuss whether they are

suitable for using with emergent readers – if we haven’t included any you use share your knowledge

• On flip chart paper create a set of criteria that define reading material suitable for emergent readers & would motivate them to read

• Focus on the ‘new’ types of materials (TEFL, audio, digital, print journalism)

• Deadline is 3:00 pm

Next steps

• Collate feedback, review and add to Chatabout network

• Update First Choice Books website (design refresh, add new criteria)

• Add more material!• Send in your recommendations to:

michelle.treagust@readingagency.org.uk • Keep up to date with developments through our

newsletter: www.readingagency.org.uk/sign-up/