Trying to Contact Old Man of the Sea

[rhondabrwn]

Hello, Old Man of the Sea (Eric Young).

Last month you made a very kind of offer to contribute some old shrinkwrapped game titles for use by my Navajo junior high American History classes at Tsaile Public School. I was already moving and didn't get to see your post for nearly 4 weeks. I responded to the post, but I'm thinking you probably never saw my response.

Unfortunately, you are not accessible via either PM or e-mail on this forum, so if you could contact me via e-mail or PM, I would be very grateful [&o][&o][&o]

[W Thorne_MatrixForum]

He should be around here sometime. If not post over on this board.......

http://freedom.d-a-s.com/forums/index.p ... b05c29b08d

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: W Thorne

He should be around here sometime. If not post over on this board.......

http://freedom.d-a-s.com/forums/index.p ... b05c29b08d

Thanks for the help! [:)]

[old man of the sea]

Let me look at what I have tonight.

Private message me your address at the http://freedom.d-a-s.com/forums/index.p ... b05c29b08d board with your address and I'll send some off to you. It would be nice to know what Machine spec you will be running them on.

Thanks,

E

[bostonrpgmania]

I am very interested which games would finally make into class room
Any update would be highly appreciated

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: old man of the sea

Let me look at what I have tonight.

Private message me your address at the http://freedom.d-a-s.com/forums/index.p ... b05c29b08d board with your address and I'll send some off to you. It would be nice to know what Machine spec you will be running them on.

Thanks,

E

Once again, totally missed your response (I don't know why it didn't show up as "unread"), but then I was careless about "subscribing" so I'd get notifications of responses. I'm not the hotshot forum person who knows all the ins and outs, I'm afraid!

I sent you a personal message tonight over at the Freedom Games website. Hope this works.

Thanks again for your support!

[Tankerace]

I wish when I was in school we got to learn by wargames. I remember in my US History class in High School learning how John Wayne took Iwo Jima all by his lonesome [:D] Though I didn't help by providing the VHS tape, but eh....

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: bostonrpgmania

I am very interested which games would finally make into class room
Any update would be highly appreciated

It is my intention to keep everyone posted on my efforts to introduce historical gaming into my school! My kids are intrigued by the plans that I have shared with them. I was told Friday that reports coming back to the school administration are that I'm "wildly popular" *blush* and they are astounded that I've broken through the resistance and gotten so close to my kids so quickly. I had hoped... but the feedback on my computer driven and highly visual teaching techniques exceeded my expectations. I run a pretty fast paced classroom - no boring worksheets, carefully targeted reading assignments, and lots of discussion. Movies are popular too. My 7th grade class is viewing "The Last of the Mohicans" as part of their study of the French and Indian War while the 8th grade is kicking off our Civil War unit with "Gods & Generals". Monday is going to be an extensive PowerPoint multi-media presentation to cover the general history of the conflict and then we will spend 4 intensive days watching "Gettysburg". The movies are my vehicle to provide a running historical commentary and background in a way that reinforces learning. A lecture just doesn't have the same impact as the image of Union soldiers piling up dead bodies as improvised breastworks at Fredricksburg! They have a one page essay to write this weekend about their choice of topics: Secession, Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Fredricksburg, or "Death of Jackson". I'm anxious to see their papers. Getting real creative writing out of them is difficult as they are used to copying answers out of the textbook. I want them to spin their own narrative stories about what we've seen and discussed. As you can see, it's not just about history here in Tsaile. Reading and Writing improvement is a priority in every classroom and every subject.

I'll keep everyone posted... promise!

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

I wish when I was in school we got to learn by wargames. I remember in my US History class in High School learning how John Wayne took Iwo Jima all by his lonesome [:D] Though I didn't help by providing the VHS tape, but eh....

Obviously, I agree!

The key to using movies as a vehicle is not to just run it as entertainment to keep the kids occupied, but to accompany it with extended commentary to expose the inaccuracies and highlight the reality. I believe that the integration of visuals and information coupled with a hands-on gaming experience will really create some learning that is going to "stick". I know that I've learned a significant portion of my own historical knowledge from movies and games (as well as documentaries and books, of course).

Example: you can't really appreciate a movie about the Battle of Waterloo without knowing what is going on... otherwise, it's just a lot of guys in neat uniforms marching around and shooting at each other. Play a wargame on the subject, read a bit of historical background, and THEN watch the movie.... now it makes sense and the visuals reinforce your newfound knowledge about the event.

I've got a former boyfriend who recently got his doctorate in Instructional System Technology and he has joined the faculty at Utah State (not too far from here). His thesis was on computer education at Point Barrow, Alaska with the Inuit children. He is anxious to assist with my project and thinks he will have the academic clout to write some grant proposals to help me get computer equipment for my school. Of course, he intends to publish on my approach which could help "spread the word" if it works out as I hope.

In academic IST circles, there is a lot of interest in "gaming" as an educational technique, but it tends to be focused on structured educational games that reward finding some piece of information or meeting an objective by displaying an arcade game as a reward. Personally, I think they will find that the amount of actual learning is modest for the amount of time actually spent (or else the kids will just get bored with the whole thing). I bought my kids every "educational" game that came down the pike when they were little, but the "game" that actually resulted in learning was the game called "Microsoft Office"!

I'm sure you can all tell that I'm excited and just getting more enthusiastic every day as I learn more about my kids and their academic strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, I just wonder where to begin... there is so much that they need to know about the world.

Thanks for all the interest and support!

[ilovestrategy]

I agree also, when I was in ROTC in high school, we got to see "Patton" and ever since then I've been hooked on military history.

[Terminus]

Heh, I remember going to high school (back in the early Jurassic Age). We weren't supposed to install any software on the school's computers, so myself and a few friends installed Civilization I. We were never caught, but the plan was to claim that the game was an aid in the study of geopolitics![:D]

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

Heh, I remember going to high school (back in the early Jurassic Age). We weren't supposed to install any software on the school's computers, so myself and a few friends installed Civilization I. We were never caught, but the plan was to claim that the game was an aid in the study of geopolitics![:D]

I think you would have been right on the money with that argument!

Civ II and similar games do provide some real insight into the historical development of the world and the interrelationship between technology, economics, and military might in the development of nations.

[ilovestrategy]

See my sig? [:D]

[rhondabrwn]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

See my sig? [:D]

I agree... Civ II is, without a doubt, one of the greatest computer games of the 20th century. I still enjoy it far more than it's successors.

[ilovestrategy]

the game I remember most was about 8 years ago. I was the romans. When Spain declared war on me I sent a small transport across the ocean, bribed one of its cities and staffed it with a couple of archers and I think a legion. Spain attacked me without end and when I finally broke the seige of that city I was up to armored tanks and conscription troops. incredible!