A Division of the American Library Association

Educational Gaming

Volume 40, No. 1
September/October 2011

The September/October 2011 Knowledge Quest features articles on Educational Gaming, which has become an increasingly popular resource in education. The issue explores how lessons based on games are currently contributing to school learning standards, what effect educational games have on students, and the ways in which school librarians are helping to develop games as educational tools. This issue guest edited by Terri Kirk and Chris Harris.

AASL Members can find the current issue on AASL's Metapress site. (Learn how to set up your access. )

Guest Co-Editors

Christopher Harris, author of the blog Infomancy, is the coordinator of the School Library System for the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, an educational services agency supporting the libraries of twenty-two small, rural districts in western New York. In addition to his writing on Infomancy, he is a regular technology columnist for School Library Journal talking about “The Next Big Thing.”

Terri Kirk is a school librarian at Reidland High School in Kentucky and has been a gamer since age 6! She is currently serving as ALA Chapter Councilor for Kentucky, as well as Game Club sponsor at Reidland. Terri served as school librarian for 20 years in McCracken County, and is currently Past President of the Kentucky Library Association and the Kentucky School Media Association. She is also a past member of ALA Executive Board.

Read Terri and Chris's Co-editor column from the issue!

Listen to a Podcast interview with Terri on Educational Gaming!

To listen to the podcast, you will be taken to AASL eCOLLAB, AASL's professional development repository. You must be logged in to the AASL website as either an AASL member or eCOLLAB subscriber to listen to the podcast.

Educational Gaming with Terri Kirk

Bonus Feature Content

In her Sept/Oct 2011 article, “Implementing Technology and Gaming Lessons in a School Library,” Khalida Mashriqi discussed gaming lessons she uses in her school library. But those weren’t the only lessons she uses. Click here to view some additional lessons she shared with us!

Knowledge Quest Webinar on Gaming

Knowledge Quest is proud to present a webinar based on the article, “Using Games to Support the Curriculum: Getting Teachers on Board” by Annalisa Crews.

Annalisa discusses how board games aligned with the school curriculum can help students learn while having fun. She also offers practical suggestions for school librarians to start their own board game program. This webinar is based on her Sept/Oct 2011 feature of the same name.

To view the archived webinar, you will be taken to AASL eCOLLAB, AASL's professional development repository. You must be logged in to the AASL website as either an AASL member or eCOLLAB subscriber to view the webinar.

Using Games to Support the Curriculum: Getting Teachers on Board by Annalisa Crews

School Library Media Research (SLMR) Spotlight

If you liked the Sept/Oct 2011 Knowledge Quest articles on educational gaming, you may be interested in this research study published in School Library Media Research (SLMR):

Examining Information Problem-Solving, Knowledge, and Application Gains within Two Instructional Methods: Problem-Based and Computer-Mediated Participatory Simulation

Additional Resources for Educational Gaming

AASL 15th National Conference Preconferences
Join Brian Mayer and Chris Harris for two preconferences on gaming at the AASL 15th National Conference and Exhibition in Minneapolis. On Oct. 26 and Oct. 27 they will host Engaged Learning Through Curriculum Aligned Games.

AASL 15th National Conference Concurrent Session
Join Brian Alspach, Executive Vice President of E-Line Media at the AASL 15th National Conference & Exhibition in Minneapolis, where he will present the concurrent session, Leveling Up From Player to Designer on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8:00-9:15 AM.

Essential Links
Essential Links is a wiki that comprises a working bibliography of resources for school librarians, principals, parents, charter school organizers, library para-professionals, government officials, and college instructors. Books, journal articles, websites, and other media are included. Here are some Essential Links related to Educational Gaming that you may find useful at your school library:

Best Websites for Teaching and Learning
The Best Websites for Teaching and Learning honors websites, tools, and resources of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.

Free Video-Game Making Websites