Making Citizens, Making History

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Making Citizens, Making History

• By Sarah Grafman
• Dave McDivitt

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• Collateral learning in the way of formation of
  enduring attributes, of likes and dislikes, may
  be and often is much more important than the
  spelling lesson or lesson in geography or history
  that is learned. For these attitudes are
  fundamentally what count in the future.
• --John Dewey

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My Journey

• Oak Hill High School
• Rural School with 540 students 9-12
• My Classroom
• Survey of World History (Sophomores)
• Entering my 14th year
• Football Coach

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My Changing World

• Pong and Mattel Handhelds
• Atari-Asteroids
• Intellivision-Utopia
• Nintendo-Mario Brothers and Contra
• PC-Sim City, Madden Football, Warcraft
• Age of Empires, Civilization and Making History
• Pong to Making History25 years

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My Students World

• Born with a PC
• A majority carry cells
• A majority have MP3 players
• A majority play games
• Xbox, Wii, PC games
• My students are only 16 years old.

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Why Games in my Classroom?

• Informal conversations with students about Age of
  Empires.
• Kids taught me how to play better
• Kids were excited that their teacher liked games
• The Quest had begun.
• Muzzy Lane Software, NCSS, Making History
• The Sims and Sociology

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The Value of a Game

• Magneticit draws students in.
• Engagementlevel of interest increases.
• Productiveeffective and efficient use of time.

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Games succeed in my class

• Making History
• Pre/Post test results
• Geography, Causes of WWII, Deeper insight in
  writing.
• The Sims
• Blogging

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Good Citizen or Good Student

• Communication Skills Written and Verbal
• Think Creatively and Critically
• Allocate Time and Money
• Multi-Task
• Work Cooperatively and Independently
• Think about and participate in community on
  local, national, and international levels

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Prepared or Passed

• High Stakes Testing Predictable.
• Games Inherently are NOT.
• Which teaches kids to perform well in society?

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Games and Civics

• Succeed in
• Verbal Communication
• Thinking Creatively and Critically
• Leadership, Empowerment, Agency
• Time Management
• Multi-tasking
• Working Cooperatively and Independently

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• I want a teacher that will foster a relationship
  that will encourage kids to take a risk, to learn
  something new, but more importantly to teach my
  kids the value of hard work, respect, and
  generosity.
• --David McDivitt

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Contact Information

• David McDivitt
• davidmc_at_ohusc.k12.in.us
• 7756 West Delphi Pike-27
• Converse, IN 46919
• 765-384-4381

• Sarah Grafman
• sarah_at_muzzylane.com
• 44 Merrimac Street
• Newburyport, MA 01950
• 978-499-9099