Credit: Three semester hours

Time: 7:00-9:30 PM Monday

Location: Satterlee 300

Purpose: This course is a seminar in Simulations and Games. The purpose of this course is for the students to acquire and understanding of how simulations and games can be used for instructional purposes. Not only will the students develop this understanding, but they will also apply their knowledge in creating an instructional lesson based on a simulation or game.

Further areas of study in the course include the study of the narrative structure of simulations and games, as it compares to other types of stories (literature, television, cinema, etc . . .). For this section of the course, the students will develop an activity which demonstrates the narrative structure of simulations and games.

Along with the course projects, students will be expected to do assigned readings, and come to class prepared to discuss these readings.

Readings
1) Herz, J.C. Joystick Nation, Little Brown and Company, 1997. 223 pages. {required}
2) Hart, Sam "A Brief History of Home Video Games" http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~hart/vgh/
3) "Zap! Splat! Smarts!: Why video games may actually help your children learn."Business Week, 1996. (8 pages)
4) Cudworth, A.L. "Simulations and Games" in the International Encyclopedia of Education (1994). (4 pages)
5) Watson, D.M. "Computer Simulations and Modeling." International Encyclopedia of Education (1994). (8 pages)
6) Reigeluth and Schwartz. "An Instructional Theory for the Design of Computer-Based Simulations" in the Journal of Computer-Based Instruction (1989). (10 pages)
7) Dempsey et al, "Instructional Applications of Computer Games", paper presented at AERA 1996 in Computers in Education, 8th edition. (7 pages)
8) Heinich et al, Instructional Media, 1993 Chapter 13: Simulations and Games. (23 pages)
9) Wolf, M. "Why We Play" in PC Gamer. February, 1998. (1 page)
10) Crawford, Chris. "The way games ought to be . . ." in Next Generation, May 1996. (2 pages)
11) Gagne et al Principles of Instructional Design 4th edition. Ch. 10: The events of Instruction. 1992. (20 pages)
12) Aycock, H.E. "Edutainment Update", in PC Gamer October 1996. (2 pages)
13) PC Gamer "The 50 Best Games Ever" PC Gamer, May 1997. (16 pages)
14) Eastman, A. "The After Action Review: The Link between training and the Army Standard" Armor Magazine May-June 1993. (2 pages)
15) Eastman, "Simulations and Training: Designing the Unit Training Program: Constructive, Virtual, and Live Simulation." pre-publication draft, Armor Magazine. (7 pages)
16) "The SIMNET Times" A publication of the Mounted Warfare Simulation Training Center. 1995 (4 pages)
17) Katz and Yates, Inside Electronic Game Design, part one. (28Pages)
18) Betrus, Qualifying Exam, Simulations and Games. 1997. (13 pages.)
19) "Blade Runner: The Westwood Cut", PC Gamer, Sept. 1997. (7 pages)
20) Sellers, M. "The Alchemy of Addiction: Creating Games that Keep People Playing" Paper Presented at the 1997 Computer Game Developers Conference. (9 pages)
21) Lewis, Michael "Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice: Computer Games Girls Play" Slate Magazine Online.
22) Entertainment Software Review Board (ESRB) Home Page http://www.esrb.com
23) VIDEO GAMES AND VIOLENCE By: Jon Konrath http://www.theroc.org/roc-mag/textarch/roc-15/roc15-08.htm
24) Gaming Violence: At TC-100  Group WEB Project http://www.msu.edu/~murphyp6/group1/
25) IDSA Press Release: "The Nation's Pre-Eminent Vidoe and Computer Game Rating System Moves onto the Internet." Dec 2, 1997.  http://www.idsa.com/press/summit.htm
26) "Coalition To Develop Rating System for Video Games", Teacher Magazine on the Web, December 15, 1993 http://www.teachermag.org/ew/vol-13/15video.h13
27) "Libertarian Party critiques proposed video game regulation", Feb 4, 1994. http://www.lp.org/rel/940204-games.html
28) "Pull the Plug on TV and Video Game Violence Week", Governor James B. Hunt Endorses Smart Choice Television Viewing for Children, Oct 21st, 1996. http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/news2/pullplug.html
29) "Flesh Feast: An interactive web site on the topic of video gaming violence" http://home.cdsnet.net/~omega/
30) "MediaScope: Video Game Violence" http://www.mediascope.org/fvidviol.htm
31) "Ask the Expert - Video Game Violence" http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1102797g.html
32) Sex in Games - Gamecenter Magazine Feature http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Sexingames/?gcd
33) Sherman, Aliza. "No Guns for Girls" 1997. http://www.tripod.com/women/feature/columns/970603guns2.html
34) Purple Moon Ships Third CD-ROM "Friendship Adventure for Girls"; Rockett's Tricky Decision Follows Industry Newcomer's Highly Successful 1997 Holiday Season: http://www.pathfinder.com/money/latest/press/BU/1998Feb24/963.html
35) "A Girl Named Rockett Takes Off" Time Magazine for Kids. http://pathfinder.com/TFK/rockett.htm
36) "Free Lunch with Brenda Laurel and Nancy Deyo", September 1st, 1997. http://www.newmedia.com/NewMedia/97/11/brainstorm/Free_Lunch_Purple.html
37) History of Video Games http://www.videogames.com/features/universal/hov/index.html
Requirements:

Instructional Lessonhis lesson must be a complete lesson that incorporates an instructional simulation or game, computer based or otherwise. The lesson must contain three distance phases which include: Briefing, Action, and Debriefing. (1/4 overall grade)

Research Presentation: This presentation will present a simulation or game's narrative structure through a typical briefing-action-debriefing scenario. Demonstrations of the type of lesson will be made by the instructor. Other topical areas of research are possible with permission of the instructor. (1/4 overall grade)

Class Participation: As this is a seminar, students will be expected to read the assigned readings and contribute to class discussion.  Performance on daily quizzes and reaction papers will constitute the final portion of the course grade. (1/4 overall grade)

Journals: Students in this class will be expected to keep a simulations and games journal.  In this journal the students will keep notes on daily simulation and game activities, including in-class and out-of-class activities.  Specific class activites include the stock market challenge and virtual pet contest.  Other activities will be announced during class.

Plagiarism: This course adheres to the College's policy on academic honesty as stated in the Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism may lead to grade reduction, course failure, or expulsion from school.

Course Schedule: (subject to change as needed)
 

Date:	Topic:
1/25	Course Introduction/Overview; Review Syllabus & Textbook  Readings # 3, 7, 10.  (Bingo)
2/1	Using Simulations and Games in Information Rich Environments: The Oregon Trail. Choose tentative topics for lessons.
2/8	AECT Conference: 1st half of class used for mathematical simulations, 2nd 1/2Class Time to Work on Instructional Projects.
2/15	Student Presentations of Instructional Lessons.
2/22	Student Presentations of Instructional Lessons, Location TBA.
3/1	****No Class: Winter Break****
3/8	Chainsaw Theory of Game Design: Where in the USA is Carmen San Diego.
3/15	Game Developers Conference: Class Time to work on Research Projects
3/22	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings:  A History of Games
3/29	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Popular Game Design / Instructional Game Design
4/5	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Military Use of Simulations and Games
4/12	**** No class: Spring Break ****
4/19	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Gender Issues / Violence and Sex in Games
4/26	Violence in Video Games: Issues surrounding the school shootings in Littleton, Colorado
5/3	Student Led Discussion of Course Readings: Addiction in Games
5/10	Student Research Presentations
5/17	Student Research Presentations

Possible Course Topics:
History of Games
Addiction in Games
Military Uses of Simulations
Instructional Uses of Simulations and Games
Violence in Video Games
Gender Issues in Games
Video Game Design
Sex in Games
Inside the Gaming Industry
Applications of Virtual Reality
Physiological Effects of Games
Other topics are also possible, with consensus of class.
Uses of Simulations in Business Training

Class Activities:
Yahoo Investment Challenge
Virtual Pet Contest
NCAA Tournament Challenge

Office Information:
E-mail: betrusak@potsdam.edu
Office: Satterlee Hall 216
Phone: (315) 267-2670
Office Hours: M/W 12:45-1:45 Th 3:45 -4:45 or by appointment

Previously this course was offerd at Indiana University under the title: F401: Simulation and Gaming

This page created January 25, 1999.  Last Updated March 14, 1999