Why Wii in a school library?

I’ve been having a bunch of interesting conversations about gaming in school libraries with the folks in different offices at my new job.

The general response from many is that they don’t see how a gaming console like the Wii connects to any learning, and it certainly does NOT belong in a school library. After all, school libraries are known for their books and quietness.

Armed with a few statistics from Marc Prensky’s and Eli Neiberger’s research, I’ve been able to successfully defend and justify the purchasing and placement of Nintendo Wii’s in school libraries. I found it necessary to pull together the most important talking points into a one page document for all the non believers out there.

Feel free to use it, modify it, give me feedback on it and make it your own. I’m going to become a member of the LibGamers forum on Google Groups. It’s becoming the place to get ideas, gather materials and continue the conversation on gaming in school libraries.

Gaming in a School Library?

That’s what I have been getting asked at least ten times daily by anyone who wants to know what I’ve been doing this summer. I’ve found that being well researched and well read has been critical in informing the the masses about digital game based learning.

I have to admit, I am a slow reader and even worse when it comes to writing. I am trying to get my facts straight, work through my ideas, make curriculum connections, and complete my due diligence on gaming in school libraries.

The good news is that Gaming in Libraries is a burgeoning idea and new research is popping up daily. ALA has appointed a task force, ALA Tech Source holds a annual gaming symposium, and there are many fresh voices and advocates in the field.

If you’re interested in trying to pull together materials to help you in your quest to study the topic, I’ve found the following to be the best of the best.

Digital Game Based Learning by Marc Prensky

Don’t Bother Me Mom- I’m Learning!” by Marc Prensky

ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning, and Libraries

Gamers…in the Library by Eli Neiburger

The Shifted Librarian (Weblog) by Jenny Levine

and a quick plug for my Alma Mater & Scott Nicholson at Syracuse University-

Library Game Lab of Syracuse

Scott’s Recent Presentation on Gaming in Libraries- March 2008

Delivering Six Nintendo Wii Packages

In my quest to research the effectiveness of gaming in libraries, I’ve been charged with the task of pricing, purchasing and packaging six Nintendo Wii’s out to school libraries in the Onondaga, Cortland & Madison regions of Central New York.

I’ve already discussed with you the torture that goes along with trying to purchase the Wii console, peripherals, and games. Packaging of the consoles to prepare them for lending isn’t a hassle. You want to be sure that you have a well thought out strategy for making sure the console(s) and game(s) are grouped in a manner that is appropriate to the grade/age level and aligns with your goals and objectives for having the Wii in your school library.

Since my organization is purchasing six for the region the thinking right now is to have each console come with a unique package of games under a genre.

Preliminarily, I’ve decided on the following organization and grouping to deliver six separate Wii packages out to school libraries in the OCM region.

An attached file sits in the adjacent hyperlink —> Wii Packaging

Elementary Cluster (Grades K-5 appropriate)

Sports Package:
Console Includes: 1 Wii Console with 4 Wii Remotes & 4 Nunchucks
Peripherals Include: Wii Balance Board
Games Include: Wii Sports (ESRB Rating: E) , Wii Fit (ESRB Rating: E), Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (ESRB Rating: E)

Action Package:
Console Includes: 1 Wii Console with 4 Wii Remotes & 4 Nunchucks
Peripherals Include: 4 Racing Wheels
Games Include: Mario Kart (ESRB Rating: E), Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (ESRB Rating: E), Raymans Raving Rabbids (ESRB Rating: E+10)

Simulation/ Strategy Package
Console Includes: 1 Wii Console with 4 Wii Remotes & 4 Nunchucks
Peripherals Include: None
Games Include: Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (ESRB Rating: E), Boom Blox (ESRB Rating: E), Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (ESRB Rating: E)

Secondary Cluster (Grades 6-12 appropriate)

Sports Package
Console Includes: 1 Wii Console with 4 Wii Remotes & 4 Nunchucks
Peripherals Include: Wii Balance Board
Games Include: Wii Sports (ESRB Rating: E), Wii Fit (ESRB Rating: E), We Ski (ESRB Rating: E)

Action Package
Console Includes: 1 Wii Console with 4 Wii Remotes & 4 Nunchucks
Peripherals Include: Les Paul Guitar
Games Include: Mario Kart (ESRB Rating: E), Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (ESRB Rating: T), Super Smash Bros. (ESRB Rating: T)

Strategy/Simulation Package
Console Includes: 1 Wii Console with 4 Wii Remotes & 4 Nunchucks
Peripherals Include: None
Games Include: Trauma Center: New Blood (ESRB Rating: T), Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII(ESRB Rating: T), Blast Works: Build, Trade & Destroy (ESRB Rating: E)

Converting a unitedstreaming video to an iPod

Ok, this one got to me today. I was throwing WTF’s around my cube for about an hour. Today I learned that in order to pull a movie from unitedstreaming and for it to show up and play on an iPod, you need to complete the following steps:

1. Visit unitedstreaming.com and select the content that you want to download for use on your iPod.

2. Make sure the content settings for what your downloading are set to Quicktime NOT Windows Media.

3. Click on the blue floppy disk download to computer button> select save to disk. (The file will show up on your desktop or wherever you had your download location set.)

4. Open iTunes.

5. Drag and drop or import the video file into iTunes. (It will show up somewhere in your iTunes Library.)

NOW FOR THE SILVER BULLET

6. Find your file in the iTunes library, select it and click on the Advanced tab on your Menu bar> select Convert selection to iPod/iPhone. You can also select the file> right click (PC users) or ctrl click (Mac) and select Convert selection to iPod/iPhone.

7. After conversion there will appear to be two of the same videos in your iTunes Library. One will be a copy of the video in Quicktime format, the other copy will be MPEG4 format. You can find the file format out by selecting the file and clicking ctrl i (PC) or apple i (Mac). You’re interested in the MPEG4 formatted file. MPEG4 plays nice with the iPod.

8. Connect your iPod to your computer and make sure iTunes is still open. Navigate to the movies section of iTunes and sync your device to transfer your new movie to your iPod.

Hope this helps.

n

Summer Employment

So it begins. It’s my first day on the job working for OCM BOCES School Library Systems and I must admit that I’m more excited than a kid on Christmas morning. I am going to spend the next six weeks investigating uses of handheld devices (read: the iPod Nano and iPod Touch & to a lesser extent, the Creative Zen) in school library settings. I’ve also been asked to investigate gaming in school libraries and purchase and create a curriculum document on the uses of a Nintendo Wii.
I have a bunch of ideas running around in my brain, but I’d like to use my personal blog as a way to extend the conversation. My goal over the next six weeks will be to investigate best practice when it comes to handhelds and gaming in school libraries and come up with original documentation and training for school librarians in my region…..and for all of my readers at School Libraryland.