1. Quest Atlantis(Atlantis Remixed) Learning Content & Valuesin 3d Alexander Makosz University of Toronto International Edu-Games Seminar November 22nd, 2011

2. Quest Atlantis what is it?

3D multi-user virtual environment

3. Aimed at students 9-16 4. A rich, pre-built gaming environment with structured gaming activities 5. Contents tied toMcRELstandards and benchmarks 6. Provides core content (math, science, language) as well as character education 7. Has had over 65,000 participants 8. Atlantis Other important features

Fun and engaging

9. Visually appealing and interactive 10. Safe and positive 11. Quest Atlantis what's new?

Received a $2,366,734grantfrom the Gates Foundation ( serious about gaming in education! )

12. Renamed Atlantis Remixed 13. Moved to environment built with Unity3D more visually appealing, more interactive and cooler! 14. Atlantis 15. Atlantis Remixed 16. Why use Quest Atlantis?

Develop and support inquiry based learning processes

17. Inspire students to assess problems, become confident in taking corrective actions and to reflect upon the consequences of their choices 18. Provide transdisciplinary learning opportunities 19. Provide fun and motivation for serious content learning 20. Quest Atlantis where to start?

Visit their new domain atwww.questatlantis.com

21. Go through teacher induction and training 22. Release forms must be signed 23. Set the stage for the game by developing context and introducing the narrative 24. Quest Atlantis setting the stage

The QA Legend

Link to Comic Link to Video 25. Quest Atlantis value of context

Why is the narrative of the game important?

A rich narrative allows for real andcomplex scenarios

26. The student becomes the author withincontext 27. Context provides for skill, attitude andknowledge development that ismeaningful 28. Students engage intransformational play 29. Quest Atlantis Student Experience

How do learners experience the game world?

Students are drawn into the narrative as authors and active participants in shaping the future of the game world

30. Learners engage in both open exploration of the environment as well as assigned missions and tasks provided by the teacher 31. Quest Atlantis - examples

Plague World Ingolstadt

New video of Plague world YouTube link

32. Quest Atlantis - examples

Content Persuasive essay writing research & analysis

33. Quest Atlantis - examples

Content Persuasive essay writing - structure

34. Quest Atlantis - Examples

Values students confront ethical issues(personhood, autonomy, ends vs. means) , see the consequences of choices and reflect upon their decisions

35. Quest Atlantis - Results

Students:

Highly motivated

36. Demonstrate acquisition of target skills and knowledge 37. Integrate skills and knowledge from multiple disciplines for practical problem solving in a novel environment 38. Take action, demonstrate reflection, justify decisions 39. See the complex consequences of their actions 40. Engage in genuine inquiry based learning 41. Quest Atlantis - Results

Teachers:

Able to select quests and missions according to class and curriculum needs as well as to support student interest

42. Implement inquiry-based learning processes 43. Monitor student progress and provide immediate and focused feedback 44. Engage students in ethical decision making scenarios with visible consequences beyond the limits of the traditional classroom 45. Receive ongoing support for development as part of a community of QA teachers 46. Quest Atlantis - Results

Administrator:

Confident in the learning value of activities in QA (tied to curriculum standards - McREL)

47. Confident in available support for teacher learning and development 48. Can justify use to parents based on research 49. Sees motivated students actively engaged in learning 50. Does not have to struggle with budget for implementing as a new resource 51. Quest Atlantis closing thoughts

Not a single educational tool success of QA is as an environment that is built to incorporate many different educational tools and apply them to a novel environment naturally suited to inquiry

52. Professional development and teacher education are extremely valuable features of QA hope to see these in more educational games 53. Thank you!

Alex Makosz [email_address] www.makosz.org

Very interested to work with more schools and researchers in virtual worlds and gaming! 54.