FRIT 7090: Games and Instructional Design

Final Project
Summer 2014

Damon Johnson

Instructional Goals & Objectives

6th Grade English Language Arts Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (ELA
CCGPS)
Conventions of Standard English
ELACC6L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar
and usage when writing or speaking.
a. Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, possessive).
b. Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself, ourselves).
c. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.
d. Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous
antecedents).
e. Recognize variations from standard English in their own and others writing and
speaking, and identify use strategies to improve expression in conventional
language.
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Common%20Core
%20Frameworks/CCGPS_ELA_Grade6_Standards.pdf
Note: Goals b. and e. would be better suited for a module of instruction separate from this one.

Learner Characteristics
These learners have progressed through the 5 th grade grammar standards for their
district with satisfactory progress to move to the 6 th grade level. They are all
digital native and have access to gaming applications via the schools computers or
personal devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones. They are in the 11-12
year old age group with an equal balance of boys and girls. These children have a
depth of background knowledge and experience accessing and interfacing with
mobile applications without instruction. They tend to figure them out and find
them easy to use. Prior to studying this unit, the student has successfully met this
performance objective ELA6C1 - ii. Identifies and uses pronouns personal,
possessive, interrogative, demonstrative, reflexive, and indefinite.
Intellectual Development 11 Year Olds (http://www.glendale.k12.wi.us/6_char.aspx)

Mostly interested in present, limited thoughts of the future

Intellectual interests expand

Even if students can make abstractions, they learn best when activities are
active, hands-on, and related to personal experiences

Intellectual Development 12 Year Olds

Increased ability to think abstract in intellectual pursuits

Learn best when involved in activities that are active, hands-on, and related
to real life

Show improved abilities to use speech for self-expression

These characteristics lend themselves to successful incorporation of gaming as an

instructional tool. Curiosity, seeking instant gratification, performing hands on
activity, abstract thinking and improved use of speech can all be tapped or
exercised through the use of a well-selected game or games.

Instructional Design
Content &
Instructional
Strategies

Goals

Learner Assessment

Evaluation

The student will read

documented examples of
correct and incorrect
pronoun case.

Ensure that pronouns are

in the proper case
(subjective, objective,
possessive) [ELACC6L1-a]

Multiple Choice Quiz

Items: The learner
submits responses to quiz
items circling either the
correct pronoun usage or
incorrect usage as
directed.

Formative evaluation of
this entire unit
comparing baseline quiz
results to post-module
results for each of the
Instructional Strategies.

The student will listen to a

lecture on pronouns in
proper case.
Learners will play WordBird.
The students will read
documented examples of
appropriate pronoun shifts.
The students will watch a
multimedia educational
video on pronoun shifts
with fun content.
Learners will play BuzzOut
(see next page).
The students will read
documented examples of
vague pronouns.
The students will listen to a
lecture on vague pronouns.

Recognize and correct

inappropriate shifts in
pronoun number and
person
[ELACC6L1-c]

Recognize and correct

vague pronouns
[ELACC6L1-d]

Short Answer Quiz

items: The leaner
rewrites incorrect
sentences to correct the
issue with inappropriate
pronoun shifts.

Multiple Choice Quiz

items:
The learner will identify the
sentences which contain
vague pronouns from a list
of sentences.

Learners will play WordBird

(see next page).

Comparison of data preand post- each strategy

will be done to analyze
whether any of the
methods are more
effective than another
OR if a combination of
the Instructional
Strategies (documents,
lectures, videos,
games) produce a
different result.
For games specifically,
observations of the
learners during play
would yield some
valuable information for
the evaluation.
In line with formative
evaluations, the
instruction could be
enhanced during its
development based on
the evaluation results.

Instructional Sequence (Concept-related: Logical prerequisite)

1.

Students will read documentation on pronouns in proper case with examples of correct and
incorrect usage.
2. Students will discuss the rules of pronouns in proper case with the instructor after a lecture.
3. Students will play WordBird.
4. Students will read documentation on inappropriate shifts in pronouns.
5. Students will watch a video on pronoun shifts.
6. Students will discuss the rules on inappropriate shifts with the instructor after a lecture.
7. Students will play BuzzOut.
8. Students will read documentation on vague pronouns.
9. Students will discuss vague pronouns with the instructor after a lecture.
10. Students will play WordBird.
11. Students will participate in a review with the instructor.
12. Students will take the quiz.

BuzzOut
Played with groups divided into teams, this game uses buzzer devices and
technology much like the device used in the game Buzzword.
A moderator reads sentences to both teams. When a team hears incorrect shifts in
pronoun, the team should buzz to stop the speaker from speaking. A certain
number of points are gained for buzzing-in AND being correct about the pronoun
shift, with bonus points added for giving the proper pronoun that should have been
used.
After a predetermined number of rounds, the team with the most points wins.

Screenshot of WordBird (my original concept not an actual on-themarket game/application)

WordBird

MyPhone

Fred visited Bob after his

graduation.

After buying some

disks, Mable put them in
SCORE

135
Pronouns Level 1

Using controls on the mobile

device or keyboard, the player
flies a bird into the incorrect
word, phrase or sentence based on
the challenge prompt crashing
the incorrect sentence. Points are
accumulated for successes, and
players graduate to new levels of
complexity and reward with each
success. Speed is measured in
addition to accuracy.
From a technical design
perspective, much can be done to
make the game engaging and fun.
Example pop-up prompt:
Crash the sentence containing a

Reference Material

https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/resource_gram.html
http://www.glendale.k12.wi.us/6_char.aspx