[games_access] Contactlist GA, for pedagogues / teacher ...

Thu Feb 17 11:03:21 EST 2011

As someone in the business of developing educational content for
intellectual developmentally disabled students, I don't find myself looking
for games that could be used in education.  But I do find myself looking at
games and game accessibility from the design perspective, and specifically
what I can learn that can be transfered into the educational space.  I also
see accessible games as useful tools to teach the students how to use
accessibility tools, and as a way to let them be part of the overall social
activity that gaming can be.

Good games are usually intuitive to use and easy to understand.  Good
accessibility features are nicely blended with the game itself, and have
little to no negative impact on gameplay.  In fact good accessibility
features benefit gameplay.  Good accessibility is just good game design in
general.  And it's also good user interaction design, which is the real
takeaway for me.

I'd like to have a student using educational software to have the same kinds
of experience that a gamer has with a good game.  When gamers get a new
game, they dive right in because it's familiar, even though brand new.
 Though obviously controllers vary greatly, they know the joystick on the
controller moves you, the buttons make things happen, etc.  A good game
teaches them how to play the by scaffolding and building up the skills
required gradually.  A good game matches the challenges to their skill and
abilities, keeping them from being either bored or frustrated.  A good game
lets them slow down and work through difficult sections if need be.

So back to the point of the list.  A good (accessible) game can teach you a
lot about creating accessibility in general for technology.  A good game can
also be an excellent teaching tool for how to use accessibility controllers
-- a skill that students will need to learn before they can even begin using
software for their regular lessons.

Tim

PS
Our #!%$ email filter at work blocks this mail list for some reason, so I've
had to subscribe via my personal email and not work email.  Here's my
business/work info...

Tim Holt
Product Technology Architect
PCI Education
tholt at pcieducation.com
http://www.pcieducation.com

On Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 1:53 AM, Sandra Uhling <sandra_uhling at web.de> wrote:

> Hi Barrie,
>
> well there is no separation between "Games" and "Education Games".
> Every game can be used for education, depends on the aim ;-)
>
> There are also no special properties of education games.
> An education game can be like a software and it can be like an AAA title.
>
> So Game Accessibility is for all games :-)
> It is not possible to have special GA for education. :-)
>
> Best regards,
> Sandra
>
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: games_access-bounces at igda.org [mailto:games_access-bounces at igda.org]
> Im
> Auftrag von Barrie Ellis
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 16. Februar 2011 21:05
> An: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
> Betreff: Re: [games_access] Contactlist GA, for pedagogues / teacher ...
>
> Personally, my focus at the GASIG is not on educational nor games used for
> rehab.  Games for leisure and pleasure is my main focus here, and how to
> open that up to as many people as possible. Yes games have side benefits of
> education and maintenance and development of skills and abilities - but
> it's
> the fun side I think is so important for the GASIG.
>
> That said, these might be useful:
>
> http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/index.html
> http://www.inclusive.co.uk/
>
> But as for access, and if normal games for fun type games, they can go to
> www.gamebase.info, www.ablegamers.com, www.deafgamers.com,
> www.audiogames.net and so on for accessibility info on games. Not ideal,
> but
> until we get a ratings system in place...
>
> Barrie
>
>
>
> From: Tara Tefertiller <mailto:ttefertiller at igda-gasig.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6:39 PM
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <mailto:
> games_access at igda.org>
> Cc: Sandra Uhling <mailto:sandra_uhling at web.de>
> Subject: Re: [games_access] Contactlist GA, for pedagogues / teacher ...
>
> Sandra,
>
> I was hoping that our thread in the forums would cover something like this,
> but there weren't many responses.
>
> What information are you hoping to provide the teacher? If you're just
> looking on providing links we already have a link page on our website.
>
> --
> Tara Tefertiller - Chairperson
> IGDA Game Accessibility SIG
>
> igda-gasig.org <http://igda-gasig.org/>
> http://gameaccesssig.forumotion.com/
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 12:21 PM, Sandra Uhling <sandra_uhling at web.de>
> wrote:
>
>
>        Hello,
>
>        do we have a contact list about GA topics for pedagogues and
> teacher?
>
>        Imagine a teacher wants to use game in the school
>        and he needs information about Game Accessibility.
>
>
>        At the moment the games do not have information about accessibility.
>        How can they find out what games can be used?
>
>
>        I have:
>        www.audiogames.net, http://gameport.blindzeln.de (German)
>        www.gamebase.info (One Switch Games)
>        www.world-of-genesis.org
>        www.lifetool.at
>        www.igda-gasig.org
>
>        It would be great to have one very good list.
>
>
>        Best regards,
>        Sandra
>
>        _______________________________________________
>        games_access mailing list
>        games_access at igda.org
>        http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>        The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
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> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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