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  • Length: 55:40 minutes (12.74 MB)
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20:49:41 SusanEttenheim: hi suzie! can we call you in ?
20:50:13 suzieboss: oh, hey, Susan! sure--but I'm mainly here to listen to what students/teachers have to say!
20:52:07 mschoenberger: good evening!
20:52:10 SusanEttenheim: hi jl! can I call you in??
20:54:32 Rachel Smith: Hi folks!
20:55:59 suzieboss: Hi Rachel--where are you located?
20:56:38 Rachel Smith: I'm in northern California
20:56:59 Rachel Smith: Where are you, Suzie?
20:57:00 suzieboss: Are you a teacher, Rachel?
20:57:05 suzieboss: I'm in Portland, OR
20:57:50 SusanEttenheim: hi - everyone!
20:57:58 Rachel Smith: I was a teacher, years ago, and I'm still one at heart :-) I research emerging technologies and their applications for learning, and I'm into educational gaming
20:58:00 iteachcomputers: Hello!!
20:58:06 Rachel Smith: Portland's lovely, Suzie
20:59:21 suzieboss: Sounds great, Rachel! I'm new to gaming, but getting a crash course with Evoke
20:59:38 Rachel Smith: Evoke's amazing, isn't it? I'm having such a blast with it
21:00:52 suzieboss: Rachel--looking for you on Evoke--what's your agent name?
21:00:59 mschoenberger: what is tonight's topic?
21:01:18 Rachel Smith: I'm agent Ninmah
21:01:25 Rachel Smith: What's your agent name, Suzie?
21:01:50 suzieboss: Suzie Boss
21:02:00 Rachel Smith: Hah, that's easy enough
21:02:26 suzieboss: yep--sending you friend invite now
21:02:32 Rachel Smith: Thanks!
21:03:01 iteachcomputers: I just got here. Can we do some introductions?
21:03:29 iteachcomputers: I am Erica Roberts & I teach 7th & 8th grade tech. I amusing Evoke with one of my classes.
21:04:00 suzieboss: Hi Erica--I'm a journalist/ed consultant with an interest in gaming (among other things!)
21:04:15 Rachel Smith: Hi Erica! I'd love to talk to you about how you're using Evoke. I'm Rachel Smith, I work for the New Media Consortium, and I'm working on developing a curriculum for teachers who want to use EVOKE or something like it in their classrooms.
21:04:51 JakeGarcia: Hello All, I'm Jake Garcia, student, 17, and I was previously on a podcast here concerning Gaming and Education. Chris Sloan is my teacher.
21:04:52 SusanEttenheim: hi everyone! how's our sound tonight?
21:04:58 iteachcomputers: Rachel - I feel like I am flying by the seat of my pants on this. About 1/2 my kids are engaged. The others complain it's too hard.
21:05:13 Rachel Smith: Erica, what's your agent name?
21:05:16 mschoenberger: sounds good
21:05:18 iteachcomputers: iteachcomputers
21:05:19 suzieboss: Hi Jake--good to see you here again
21:05:26 JakeGarcia: Likewise
21:05:31 Rachel Smith: hah, also easy. I'm Ninmah. I'll look for you, let's talk!
21:05:40 iteachcomputers: Cool.
21:06:12 iteachcomputers: Susan - sound??
21:07:13 iteachcomputers: Susan - Found it.
21:07:53 mschoenberger: what is the recommended age range or grade level for Evoke?
21:07:57 JakeGarcia: My review for Evoke: http://youthvoices.net/node/36215
21:08:19 iteachcomputers: @mschoenberger - I think I saw 13 & up.
21:08:31 Rachel Smith: it's designed for young adults, but I know there are older people playing (like me) and some younger people too, high school age
21:09:44 mschoenberger: what is the premis of the game??
21:10:05 Rachel Smith: It's a game designed to teach players how to be social innovators
21:10:17 Rachel Smith: The tagline is "a crash course in saving the world"
21:11:06 mschoenberger: sounds cool--but above my K-5 kids
21:11:08 Rachel Smith: Each week, there are quests and missions that involve learning about a current issue of global significance, coming up with an action(s) you can take individually, and envisioning a future around change
21:11:28 Rachel Smith: yes, it's not for little kids. But the process can be used with that age group, just not the EVOKE system itself.
21:11:29 iteachcomputers: I watched the TED talk by Jane McGonigal - Put it context for me.
21:12:15 Rachel Smith: Good question, Suzie
21:12:19 iteachcomputers: @mschoenbeger - I think it is above some of my 7 & 8 kids.
21:12:20 mschoenberger: anything like Evoke for the younger kids?
21:13:07 Rachel Smith: I don't know of an online one, but one of my personal EVOKE projects is to develop a curriculum that would explain how to do it, without needing to set up the social network
21:13:21 Rachel Smith: I'm collaborating with other agents to create that
21:14:08 iteachcomputers: @Rachel - I would love to work with you on that. The Ning piece of the game caused a bit of a problem for me at school. Had to have it unblocked.
21:15:24 Rachel Smith: Oh, definitely, I'd love to have your help. I'll be talking about this a little later, but there's a wiki where we're doing our work
21:15:31 Rachel Smith: I'll get the URL, I'm having trouble pasting it.
21:17:19 SusanEttenheim: hi daniel welcome!
21:17:25 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?
21:17:41 SusanEttenheim: are you playing evoke? and can you hear our sound?
21:17:41 danielsadicario: I teach English in St. Louis
21:17:44 SusanEttenheim: welcome!
21:17:55 danielsadicario: No sound
21:18:13 iteachcomputers: @Jake - That's exactly what my kids are saying at school.
21:18:47 JakeGarcia: Don't get me wrong, it's a noble effort.
21:18:51 JakeGarcia: Just, no cigar.
21:19:19 iteachcomputers: I think it is too. Just overwhelming for them. Too much thinking.
21:19:31 iteachcomputers: That's what they are saying.
21:20:26 suzieboss: Interesting review, Jake--very perceptive
21:20:55 danielsadicario: Sorry I missed the earlier conversation...what grades are you all teaching?
21:21:01 SusanEttenheim: hi tim welcome!
21:21:07 iteachcomputers: I teach 7th & 8th grade.
21:21:10 SusanEttenheim: please introduce yourself!
21:21:17 tim: hi susan.
21:21:51 tim: i teach year 5 & 6 in wellington, NZ
21:22:05 SusanEttenheim: welcome! have you tried urgent evoke?
21:22:31 tim: have only just loaded it up now - from the edtalk tweet
21:22:57 iteachcomputers: Jake - can you post the link to your review again? I lost the chat
21:23:51 suzieboss: Here's link to Jake's review: http://youthvoices.net/node/36215
21:23:52 SusanEttenheim: hi copystar welcome!
21:24:01 iteachcomputers: Thanks suzie.
21:24:12 tim: I get a lot of ssl certificate errors on urgentevoke. is that just me ?
21:24:20 SusanEttenheim: copystar where and what do you teach?
21:24:24 Rachel Smith: Hmm, I haven't seen those, Tim
21:24:35 copystar: in ontario, and I'm a librarian
21:24:52 SusanEttenheim: welcome copystar!
21:25:06 iteachcomputers: @tim - I haven't had those problems.
21:25:08 SusanEttenheim: hi nathaniel welcome!
21:25:17 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?
21:25:20 copystar: is the edtechtalk on evoke stream, a or b,... or non of the above?
21:25:22 tim: could be my script filtering in ff - site seems to run fine
21:25:29 Nathaniel F (redct): I don't actually teach, I'm an EVOKE gamerunner
21:25:33 JakeGarcia: Thanks for reposting that Suzie
21:25:34 Nathaniel F (redct): But not here in any official capacity :)
21:25:36 tim: i'm listening on stream A copystar
21:25:41 copystar: thx!
21:25:41 Nathaniel F (redct): I'm just listening in.
21:25:51 Rachel Smith: Oh, Nathaniel, hi! Nice to see you. I'm agent Ninmah.
21:26:00 Nathaniel F (redct): Hey!
21:26:32 SusanEttenheim: we're on edtechtalk A
21:26:51 Nathaniel F (redct): Got to say, I love what you guys are doing.
21:26:55 danielsadicario: Just read Jake's review. Wow. Yes, says it all.
21:27:07 copystar: Hey Nathaniel (its fellow agent, Mita)
21:27:16 Nathaniel F (redct): \o Mita
21:28:01 danielsadicario: I like Jake's idea about how the game has the potential to be truly ground breaking but it needs some "bad guy" aspect.
21:28:04 Nathaniel F (redct): Where's Jake's review
21:28:16 danielsadicario: http://youthvoices.net/node/36215
21:28:25 copystar: (I'm stepping away so I can finish the dishes) - still listening tho
21:28:27 Rachel Smith: You know, I really like that there isn't a bad guy
21:28:42 SusanEttenheim: interesting idea rachel
21:29:42 Rachel Smith: Not saying bad guys aren't fun -- I'm a gamer, I'm way into WoW, and I really like beating up on a boss of a Saturday night. But in the case of EVOKE, what I get out of it is that people can work together and we don't have to beat anybody up.
21:30:29 iteachcomputers: @Rachel - and the fact that there is no bad guy makes it easier to "sell" it to my Administration.
21:30:55 Nathaniel F (redct): I Love Bees!
21:30:58 danielsadicario: For students in middle school, especially in St. Louis where I'm from, there is a lack of interest on these important issues. The "bad guy" might make it fun to learn about these things.
21:31:00 tim: i've only scanning the site for the last 10 minutes - but like the literary elements
21:31:00 Rachel Smith: I can see how it'd be hard to keep up with EVOKE as part of a class. If you really delve into it, it's almost like a part-time job
21:31:08 Nathaniel F (redct): ARGs FTW.
21:31:22 tim: that would make it useable for my year level
21:31:29 SusanEttenheim: that's so true rachel - that's the problem that we're having
21:31:34 cogdog: Also, "I Love bees" did not junp up and say "I am a game"
21:31:37 iteachcomputers: @daniel - That's the issue I am having with my kids. About 1/2 of them "get it." The others don't.
21:31:41 SusanEttenheim: even with the whole class it's hard to keep up
21:31:56 Nathaniel F (redct): It's true, one of the ARG mantras is "TINAG". "This is not a game."
21:32:15 Nathaniel F (redct): There's a clear division of behind-the-curtain (think Wizard of Oz) and in front of the curtain
21:32:30 Rachel Smith: One thing to try might be to pick one of the weeks and go really deeply into that theme -- don't try to keep up, just really explore that one topic, and culminate the experience with students taking action somehow at school
21:33:00 Rachel Smith: They can still take advantage of the posts that others make and the info that others share, and they can contribute too
21:33:04 tim: i personally would struggle to integrate this into my classroom programme
21:33:18 SusanEttenheim: our students do community service and they've asked it they can use that.. but say on a food week, maybe what they did wasn't about food..
21:33:47 tim: @rachel I like the idea of delving deeper into one topic/focus
21:33:59 tim: that makes more sense for students at my level
21:34:15 Nathaniel F (redct): Would you guys like to talk to one of the creators of 'Bees? I can see if he can answer a few questions via email or something
21:34:22 iteachcomputers: Since I teach an elective, I can do what I want. I was going to have them work on it once a week.
21:34:39 JakeGarcia: @Nathaniel: Yes please!
21:34:43 JakeGarcia: That would be so wonderful!
21:35:08 Nathaniel F (redct): Let me grab him on Twitter and I'll see what I can do.  Who should I contact if it gets set up?
21:35:25 SusanEttenheim: just let me know and i can skype anyone in!
21:35:38 JakeGarcia: @Nathaniel: jakegarcia23@gmail.com
21:35:40 SusanEttenheim: I do have to call them though to add to the conference call
21:36:17 SusanEttenheim: nathaniel - remind us again.. where and what do you teach?
21:36:18 Nathaniel F (redct): For posterity: http://42entertainment.com/bees.html Those are the guys that did it.  They're an ARG agency formed by staff members at Microsoft
21:36:24 tim: I really like the graphic novel elements - a lot of my male students, really enjoy the support that graphic elements give to their reading and comprehension
21:36:40 Nathaniel F (redct): Susan: I don't teach. :) I'm a student (and EVOKE gamerunner) here to listen in
21:36:51 SusanEttenheim: ahh well we're glad you're here!
21:36:56 JakeGarcia: I find the graphic novel portions the only compelling part of the game.
21:36:56 Nathaniel F (redct): I'm really interested in your work with EVOKE and education
21:37:16 SusanEttenheim: could you explain to everyone what a gamerunner does?
21:37:39 suzieboss: Where are you located, Nathaniel?
21:39:36 Nathaniel F (redct): Austin, Texas
21:39:49 SusanEttenheim: nathaniel - do you have skype?
21:39:55 SusanEttenheim: can I call you into the call?
21:40:05 Nathaniel F (redct): Yeah, my microphone isn't working right now
21:40:14 SusanEttenheim: can you get one?
21:40:15 Nathaniel F (redct): So it'd be kind of worthless :/
21:40:20 SusanEttenheim: :(
21:40:27 Nathaniel F (redct): I know how to fix it, I'm just too lazy and I don't want to crack open my macbook
21:40:45 SusanEttenheim: do you have headsets with a mic or an external?
21:41:06 Nathaniel F (redct): Oh! I think I can probably get in on my iPhone
21:41:09 Nathaniel F (redct): Let me install the Skype app
21:41:19 SusanEttenheim: or I can call you on your phone
21:41:27 SusanEttenheim: you can pm me the number
21:41:34 Nathaniel F (redct): I'm billed 25¬¢/minute, no thanks :P
21:41:39 SusanEttenheim: oh dear
21:42:11 Nathaniel F (redct): The pitfalls of a prepaid iPhone.
21:42:21 SusanEttenheim: ahh well just let me know!
21:42:28 SusanEttenheim: I'd love to call you in!
21:42:32 Nathaniel F (redct): Speaking of demographic outliers, I'm 16 &gt;_&gt; Most definitely not a college adult.
21:42:50 SusanEttenheim: haha what is a gamerunner nathaniel?
21:43:01 Nathaniel F (redct): Okay, so
21:43:18 Nathaniel F (redct): We're basically moderators and general, uh...
21:43:22 Nathaniel F (redct): Stagehands would be the best word
21:43:48 Nathaniel F (redct): Plus, I started to develop tools and code stuff, so I got informally recruited into the development team
21:44:32 tim: @jake it sounds like you'd enjoy a more immersive experience than evoke offers
21:44:38 Nathaniel F (redct): However, we're all basically back there to shuffle things around, improve, connect with the player base, mentor, and so on
21:44:56 SusanEttenheim: nathaniel - is there anyway we can call you in?
21:45:03 Nathaniel F (redct): It's practically a part time job, but I find it fun; I count it as an educational experience lol
21:45:04 suzieboss: Nathaniel--sounds like a great experience!
21:45:06 Nathaniel F (redct): Yeah, just one sec
21:46:00 Nathaniel F (redct): Okay, Skype?
21:46:11 SusanEttenheim: okay what's your user name?
21:46:17 Nathaniel F (redct): redcti
21:46:47 tim: I can see how evoke might cause my students to think, consider other options, make those connections.
21:47:12 tim: i'd be happy if it was a start to a more engaged worldview for my students
21:47:25 Nathaniel F (redct): It rang my laptop skype
21:47:27 Nathaniel F (redct): Call again?
21:47:35 tim: i wouldn't expect them to want to save the planet by the weekend....
21:48:50 copystar: Yay redct!
21:49:45 Rachel Smith: You know, Evoke kinds of turns the idea of an ARG on its head. Unlike I Love Bees, which pretended not to be a game but really was, I think Evoke pretends to be a game but really isn't.
21:49:59 tim: brb
21:50:10 Rachel Smith: I can definitely see how that would be less appealing to some folks, Jake
21:50:28 JakeGarcia: @Rachel, ergo, I don't consider Evoke to be a game.
21:50:49 suzieboss: Nathaniel--how much time are you putting into Evoke/week?
21:50:52 JakeGarcia: I consider Evoke to be Youth Voices with a plot.
21:51:11 Rachel Smith: I can see that, for sure
21:51:34 Rachel Smith: OTOH, don't dismiss it for everyone just because of that, I would say.
21:51:48 JakeGarcia: @Rachel, I never did.
21:54:24 Rachel Smith: I was wondering how many were active. That's good to know
21:57:30 suzieboss: Jane McG makes an interesting point--that the game designer wants you to WIN
21:57:50 SusanEttenheim: her TED talk really helped us understand
21:59:14 copystar: Superstruct had a global point target that the group was supposed to work towards...
21:59:30 suzieboss: Great point, Susan!
21:59:52 suzieboss: "Get in the game" is the message here, sounds like
22:03:28 suzieboss: Great question, Paul
22:04:48 tim: thanks for the discussion. will explore evoke a bit more.
22:05:10 tim: end of the school day here in nz - time to start staff meetings. :)
22:05:13 tim: cheers.
22:05:17 Rachel Smith: thanks, Tim!
22:05:21 Rachel Smith: have a good evening
22:05:27 suzieboss: thanks, TIm!
22:06:06 cogdog: That seems to suggest the game is needed... encourage people to go out and act.
22:08:40 suzieboss: http://www.urgentevoke.com/forum/topics/collaborative-project
22:09:26 suzieboss: This link is a thread about collaborative project ideas--some very real already!
22:11:39 suzieboss: Rachel is describing how change happens, grass roots
22:13:06 suzieboss: Rachel--need to follow up with you later
22:13:28 suzieboss: where do I find teacher group on Evoke?
22:13:35 JakeGarcia: @Rachel; what you've described is wonderful, though
22:13:41 JakeGarcia: All I see in that is a social blog
22:13:42 JakeGarcia: Not a game
22:13:45 JakeGarcia: You follow?
22:13:48 Rachel Smith: In the forums, Suzie, under Agent Initiatives &gt; Calling All Teachers
22:13:52 Rachel Smith: there's a link to the wiki
22:13:58 suzieboss: great--thanks so much!
22:14:00 Rachel Smith: Jake, I totally follow, and I don't disagree
22:14:13 Rachel Smith: I've really enjoyed hearing your views
22:14:27 JakeGarcia: Likewise! It was wonderful talking with all of you, again, in fact.
22:16:26 Rachel Smith: Nathaniel, I'm curious: did you enjoy being a player more, or do you enjoy being a gamerunner more?
22:16:33 Rachel Smith: I get the sense you're a tinkerer
22:17:39 Rachel Smith: http://urgentevoke.wikia.com/wiki/Calling_All_Teachers
22:18:01 Rachel Smith: the curriculum project is called EVOKing in the Classroom -- you're all invited to help with that, or any of the other projects, or to propose your own
22:19:11 Nathaniel F (redct): Just a little side comment; I'm going to see if I can round up the list of our "noteworthy" evidence
22:19:22 Rachel Smith: excellent!
22:19:37 suzieboss: Thanks, everyone--great conversation!
22:19:45 SusanEttenheim: thanks for joining us!
22:19:52 JakeGarcia: Thanks again everyone!
22:20:18 Rachel Smith: Night everyone!