Recent posts for David Hatfield
Reblogged: The power of authenticity
This piece was originally published by the Macarthur Foundation on their Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning blog (original link).
One of the things we know about creative thinking is that creative thinkers these days use sophisticated tools: graphic designers use Photoshop and Illustrator, architects and engineers use CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, urban planners use geographic information systems, managers use gantt charting tools, accountants use spreadsheets, and everyone uses word processors, Web browsers, and email.
So it makes sense that to learn innovative and creative thinking, you need to use these tools and you need to learn to use them.
Continue reading »
“Be the Reporter” in minutes
In the journalism epistemic game, science.net, players spend days and sometimes weeks learning to think like reporters by taking on this professional role and writing, and ultimately, publishing stories. So I was a bit anxious when I learned that The Poynter Institute and News University were providing an online game called “Be the Reporter” (BtR) that promised to “help users understand some of the basics” in only 15 minutes! After playing the game a couple of times through (and taking nearly an hour), I’m less anxious and more excited by the interesting design elements built into this intriguing mini-game.
Continue reading »
Reflection in professional play
Hatfield, D., & Shaffer, D. W. (2008). Reflection in professional play. Paper to be presented at the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS), Utrecht, Netherlands.
http://epistemicgames.org/cv/papers/Hatfield_Shaffer_ICLS_08.pdf
Color vs Dirt
In on game design, Chris Crawford writes about interstitial stories: “stories with variable parameters that can be used in different contexts.” (p.330) He goes on to say that these bits of context serve a number of purposes:
Providing color with little dirt
Enhancing character development
Giving the player a different set of challenges
Providing feedback
Byline gets pitched
New in Byline this year are an expanded set of editing and previewing interfaces for the science.net reporters to work with. Based on ethnographic field work with a junior-level reporting course, reporters now get engine-driven feedback about their background research to help them pitch the stories they will be preparing for their desks. New tabs also include support for interview questions, notes and quotes.
