This course is an online introduction to Video Games as Learning Tools, a comprehensive course based upon five years of implementation and research. The course builds from three concepts:

1. Deep Learning
2. Games
3. Motivation

The course offers innovative ways to learn and connect engaging instructional strategies, research, and resources for educators, instructional designers, game makers, and people with an interest in games and learning. The course is built from an instructional framework that lists five ways that games can be used for instruction (figure 1).

The course provides an overview of games, and how they can be used as:

1. artifacts and texts for study and instruction
2. as guidelines for designing instruction (to utilize game design concepts for classrooms, training, and professional development), as well as curriculum tools for content delivery.
3. as a means for producing new media and new narratives such as machinima, modding (modifying of the shelf games into new games.
4. as models, representation, simulations, and the study of virtual worlds
5. and as a portal to developing 3^rSTEM, an approach for teaching reading, writing, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, and MATHEMATICS

This framework is intended to offer a range of experiences for a variety of learners and familiarity with games, as well as purposes and objectives. The introductory course offers beginners a range of experiences for developing comfort and competence, as well as approaches to using games for instructional purposes, and it offers game enthusiasts and game designers opportunity to gain introduction to research, learning theories, and design techniques.

The course was designed to be self-paced, allow the learner choice and opportunity to choose outcomes and learning purpose, and provide resources and community.

The course has been offered for four years at the University of Minnesota graduate school in the College of Education and Human Development, and embodies accessibility and quality.

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The course is available online through the Professional Learning Board in conjunction with Minneapolis Public Schools Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System and the University of Minnesota.

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Video Games as Learning Tools

Students interested in graduate credits may purchase three 5000 level graduate credits for half the normal price.

If you email the instructor, coupon codes are available for Minneapolis Public School Teachers and the first 10 Non-MPS students