Let's Chat: Extra Lives.

For most of us in the teaching world, February means parent-teacher conferences, quarter 2 report cards, and the halfway mark for the school year.

Exhausted yet?

We hope you've enjoyed our chillaxed approach for our final book selection of Season 2 of the Level Up Book Club. We're wrapping things up this Friday via a Twitter chat and would love for you to join.

Twitter chat this Friday, February 8th at 7-8pm EST.
#LevelUpBC

On the agenda:

• Highlights of Tom Bissell's Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter
• Unveiling of the new Level Up Book Club Co-Op Mode
• Crowdsourced feedback: What does the Level Up BC mean to you?
• Geeking out over cool, new video games on consoles and iOs/Android

Join in to learn more about Level Up, reconnect with other guild members, or just to unwind after a long week. No need to read Extra Lives to feel included.

See you soon!

Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter

So, Level Up Book Club, how's your super chillaxed, uber stress-free month of December, going?  That's what I thought! You're swamped! Overwhelmed!  Counting the seconds days till winter break!

Guess what?!

So are we!

Which is why this post is just a reminder that this month our gift to you is a no pressure read of Tom Bissell's Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter - just in time for the month when WE ALL wish we had a few extra lives to fall back on. (Or a least a few elves to help us get all that work done!)

No need to stress about challenges or leader boards this month, just pick up your copy of this amazing book and start reading.  Easy Peasy.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll start posting quotes from the book and sharing our thoughts.  Then, once January hits, when we're all feeling rested and renewed, we'll hit the ground running in preparation for our next #levelupbc Twitter chat.  In the meantime, feel free to make Level Up and Bissell's book your happy place during this hectic and chaotic time.

And... if you're still waiting for your copy to come in at the public library OR you're hoping Santa will tuck one in your stocking, no worries!  Here's an interview with the author to tide you over!

Enjoy!

Task 12: You Like Me. You REALLY Like ME!

Holy super cinematic masterpieces, Batman!  If you missed last night's #levelupbc twitter chat, YOU MISSED OUT!  Instead of discussing our latest read in the traditional way, we spent the hour creating online movies in which we faced our own personal "brotherhood."

Yeah.  It was epic.

But that was only the beginning.

This week, as you get your hands on our next read, we're asking that you take a minute to watch what your colleagues created and cast your ballot for best picture.

It's simple.  Pop some popcorn, grab the beverage of your choice and then head over to our tumblr. OR you can view all of the videos below by scrolling past the survey. Once you've done your best impression of Roger Ebert, just cast your ballot in the form below.

But wait!  There's more!

The winner of this week's challenge - the director of the film that gets the most votes - gets....... THIS!

NO!! YOUR EYES ARE NOT DECEIVING YOU!

Someone is going home with a 53" inflatable Oscar y'all!

So... grab a copy of  Karl Kapp's book and settle in for the best independent film making this side of Sundance.   Voting ends Friday at 11:59pm EST.  We'll announce the winner on Saturday.

Good luck!

 

@michaelrosario :

@matthewwinner :

@premediawine :

@jenniferlagarde :

@SEMSlibrarylady :


@CarliSpina :
My #LevelUpBC Entry by carli.spina on GoAnimate

Video Maker - Powered by GoAnimate. http://animoto.com/play/aRXPnCszsSYMri6g2PfuOw

@harbeckc :
http://animoto.com/play/aRXPnCszsSYMri6g2PfuOw

Task 11: Lights! Camera! Action!

During tonight's Twitter chat, we're going to do something a little different.  Instead of spending the hour chatting about our AWESOME August read, we're going to make movies. Yes, you heard me right!  Get ready, #levelupbc, this is gonna be EPIC.

Everything that happens in Darren Steele and Christine Chung's novella I'll Eat This Cricket for a Cricket Badge leads up to one crucial and potentially life altering event for Lara (our heroine):  a once in a life time, prove your worth meeting with "the brotherhood" - the really scary, all powerful, malevolent dictators of her company - where she must PROVE that gamification is research-based, that it motivates people AND that it can help save her company from disaster!

We all know what happens in the book, but what would happen if YOU had to deliver the same kind of knock 'em dead presentation to YOUR "brotherhood"?  Well, tonight, you get to find out!  

That's right, #levelupbc, tonight during our twitter chat, you've got ONE HOUR to create an online video that reenacts this epic scene from I'll Eat This Cricket for a Cricket Badge if it were to take place in YOUR school - where YOU are Lara and ________ (your principal, teacher leaders, parents, etc) are "the brotherhood."

Here are the rules:

1.  You can use the web2.0 tool of your choice, but here are some options:

• Go Animate
• Xtranormal
• Jelly Cam
• Animoto
• Voki - okay, this isn't really a movie, but if you're a little timid, this might be the option for you.

2.  Use the Twitter Chat to talk trash, support one another, ask for help or share ideas, but just remember...

3.  A link to your video must be submitted to our tumblr or #LevelUpBC Twitter feedby 8:59pm EST in order to move forward in the competition.  (Yes, there WILL be a part TWO to this challenge!)  

4.  Be creative AND convincing!!  Remember, your educational life is on the line! How are you going to convince your own personal "brotherhood" that gamification is legitimate pedagogy, that is WORKS and that it can help you impact student learning???

So... what are you waiting for??  Time is running out!  Action!  

August Twitter Chat.

#LevelUpBC Twitter Chat

Thursday, Sept. 6th (8pm EST)

I'll Eat This Cricket for a Cricket Badge

Meet us on Twitter from 8-9pm EST this Thursday, September 4th for a chat you won't soon forget.

We'll talk about I'll Eat This Cricket for a Cricket Badge, our August read for Level Up Book Club. We'll exchange ideas for making meaningful change in your school and bringing games into your practice. We'll talk about plans for Level Up in the upcoming school year. And there's a super secret activity Jennifer has in store for all of us that will be epic.

"See you" this Thursday!

Task #9: The Discussion Continues

Thursday's #levelupbc Twitter Chat was another great celebration of all the amazing knowledge each of you bring to the table. Thanks for transferring those relevant ideas picked up from reading James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy and applying them to your current instructional practice. We know lots of you were not able to join us for the Twitter Chat, so...

Task 9:

WIKI CHALLENGE: "Let's Talk Gee on our Wiki"

Directions: Join the new Level Up Book Club wiki (http://levelupbc.wikispaces.com), visit the Discuss Gee page, and respond to a couple of questions. You can add to our Twitter Chat discussion questions or respond to other questions submitted last week by #levelupbc members care of Task #8. Make sure you leave your name if you want Reward credit.

Reward: Let's level up together! Earn +1 level for joining the wiki plus an additional +1 level for every question you respond to (Remember to leave your name so we can reward you!).

Deadline: Respond to questions via the wiki no later than 11:59pm Monday, August 13th to claim your level ups.

Task #8: We Will Now Be Taking Questions

Our Twitter Chat for James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy will take place on Thursday, August 2nd at 8pm EST. Jennifer and I decided to up and ante by crowdsourcing the  discussion questions.

Task 8:

GOOGLE DOC CHALLENGE: "Take Down the Leader"

Directions: Think of a question we could discuss at our upcoming #levelupbc Twitter Chat for James Paul Gee's book, then complete the form below with the question you'd like us to consider. You may submit as many questions as you'd like. Please complete a new form for each question.

Reward: We will select 4-5 questions for our discussion. We will award +10 levels up for each question accepted, regardless of the author. But look out! Jennifer and I are competing in this one, too... and we each want that top leader spot back!

Deadline: All questions must be submitted no later than 11:59pm Wednesday, August 1st.