Recent posts
Instruction Based on Tutoring
Graesser, A. C., D’Mello, S.K., Cade, W. (in press). Instruction based on tutoring. In R.E. Mayer and P.A. Alexander (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Learning and Instruction. New York: Routledge Press.
http://epistemicgames.org/eg/wp-content/uploads/graesser-handbook-GDC-Mayer-Alexander-010810.pdf
Methods of Automated Text Analysis
Graesser, A.C., McNamara, D.S., & Louwerse, M.M. (in press). Methods of automated text analysis. In M.L. Kamil, D. Pearson, E.B. Moje, & P. Afflerbach (Eds.), Handbook of Reading Research, Volume IV. Mahwah, NJ: Routledge/Erlbaum.
http://epistemicgames.org/eg/wp-content/uploads/Graesser_Handbook-reading-gml-080709.pdf
Pedagogical Agents
Graesser, A.C., & McNamara, D.S. (in press). Self-regulated learning in learning environments with pedagogical agents that interact in natural language. Educational Psychologist.
Ghttp://epistemicgames.org/eg/wp-content/uploads/Graesser-mcnamara-EP-070410.pdf
Doctor Thornburg, I presume
I got a wonderful email the other day from Dr. David Thornburg, who is the director of the Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.
What was so wonderful about it is that when I read his name and biography, I realized that two decades ago when I was teaching in California, David gave a talk that I attended, and his talk was part of my formative thinking about graduate school and my career beyond.
And now, 20 years later, not even realizing that he had been one of my inspirations, here was an email from him, talking about the similarities in the work we were doing.
Needless to say, a great phone conversation ensued.
One of David’s recent pieces talks about some of the connections between his work and epistemic games, and I look forward to continuing the conversation….
Professor Kingsfield, on epistemology
Bob Mislevy just reminded me of a great quote from the old TV show The Paper Chase, spoken by an intimidating professor to a group of students at Harvard Law School:
You come in here with a skull full of mush, and you leave thinking like a lawyer.
Digital Media and Learning Game Changers Kids Competition 2010
Join the 2010 Game Changers Kids Competition for Spore and Little Big Planet players. This is your chance to prove yourself as an innovative video game creator! Winners must be under 18, and will be selected based on “Creativity” and “Playability.” Deadline is August 31, 2010.
For more information, visit http://www.dmlcompetition.net/kidscomp/.
Urban Science as part of Mass Audubon’s Conservation Leadership Program
Our partners at the Massachusetts Audubon Society are including Urban Science as part of their Conservation Leadership Program August 16-20 for youths entering grades 9-12. To learn more about the free program and to sign up, click here.
Comments of Journalism Mentors on News Stories
Graesser, A., Cai, Z., Wood, J., Hatfield, D., Bagley, E., Nash, P., & Shaffer, D.W. (2010). Comments of Journalism Mentors on News Stories: Classification and Epistemic Status of Mentor Contributions. Paper presented at the Intelligent Tutoring Systems Conference (ITS), Pittsburgh, PA.
http://epistemicgames.org/eg/wp-content/uploads/graesser-automentor-0410141.pdf
Should school be more like work?
One study suggests that maybe it should:
An Experimental Study of the Effects of Monetary Incentives on Performance on the 12th-Grade NAEP Reading Assessment
by Henry Braun, Irwin Kirsch & Kentaro Yamamoto
This article describes a randomized field trial conducted to estimate the impact of modest monetary incentives on performance on a version of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 12th-grade reading assessment. Monetary incentives have a statistically significant and substantively important impact on both student engagement/effort and achievement.
The Epistemic Games Group
The Epistemic Games Group is made up of researchers, educators, and game designers who create games in which players see what it is like to live in the world of adults. They learn ways of thinking that matter in the digital age.
If you’re interested in building and studying epistemic games and the future of education, find out more about who we are, and what we do. We’re always interested in talking with potential collaborators and new epistemic gamers….
