Participatory Culture as Professional Development: Preparing Teachers to Use "Minecraft" in the Classroom

As computer-based game use grows in classrooms, teachers need more opportunities for professional development aimed at helping them to appropriately incorporate games into their classrooms. Teachers need opportunities not only to learn about video games as software but also about video games as cult...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:TESOL journal 2017-12, Vol.8 (4), p.753
Main Authors: Kuhn, Jeff, Stevens, Vance
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communities of Practice
Computer Games
Educational Games
Faculty Development
Online Courses
Technology Integration
Video Games
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Summary:As computer-based game use grows in classrooms, teachers need more opportunities for professional development aimed at helping them to appropriately incorporate games into their classrooms. Teachers need opportunities not only to learn about video games as software but also about video games as culture. This requires professional development that embeds educators in the social practice of games while they learn how to play and implement them in classroom practice. This article describes the design considerations around the ongoing TESOL Electronic Village Online (EVO) "Minecraft" Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) that mimics the social practices around video games by reimagining professional development as a participatory culture. This participatory-culture approach anchors participants' learning of the video game "Minecraft" in a multiyear community of educators who share ideas, post videos, blog, and play "Minecraft" together. This community of practice raises awareness among its participants of the participatory cultures in which our students play video games.
ISSN:1056-7941
DOI:10.1002/tesj.359/full