Advice+Column

We don't need no stinking badges!



Well actually, you do!

Remember, **//Quest//** badges alone will not get you through the levels. Take a look at the //**Reward**// badges. Some are a lot of fun and may expose you to areas of gaming and assessments you may have not thought about. You can even get a reward badge for posting right here in the **//Advice Column//**. Some of the badges may not take a lot of time and effort. So at least go through the list and determine which are right (or interesting) to you.

Though this is a self-paced course, do not wait until the last minute to try and do everything. You can pace yourself and successfully complete it in the alloted four weeks. However I would recommend that if you find some "extra" time on your hands, work ahead of your schedule. Life happens and it is better "safe than sorry." If you are done ahead of time, that's time you can use for other things.

I am a "veteran" of UW-Stout online courses. I have completed 11 graduate level courses (all are 3 semester hours), but this is the first one I have taken that is truly self-paced. Plus it is a game, so your competitiveness may come out.

Good luck to you all!

Bob Leahy @ Palatine, IL Fall 2013

This course will get you excited about implementing games in your own classroom! When choosing assignments to complete, truly think about your own instructional environment and select the assignments that will most benefit your own classroom. Having a choice is great! I have found that the assignments I have chosen have helped me to create a plan for implementing a variety of different games in my own classroom. I am excited to get started! Be sure to check out other students' ideas; this can spark an idea for your own classroom and it is a great way to interact with colleagues. There are various reward badges to also help you think about games in your classroom - be sure to explore! Have fun! - Melissa Shasteen

This class will be unlike any UW-Stout class you have ever taken! It is self-paced and highly addicting. My advice would be to reference the calendar often to make sure you are on track of the current badges and work ahead if you are able. However, don't get discouraged if your classmates are way ahead of you. The leader board visual is nice to see where your classmates are, but you have to remember that everyone is going to work at a very different pace and at different levels. Don't get discouraged! Work at a pace that works for you. Lastly, watch the video tutorials - they will really help you navigate the system with ease. Good luck! Kait Sanford

You will get hook up with this class. It is addicting. It is important to keep in mind that the goal is not collecting every possible badge alone; your mission is to learn how to use this great experience to create meaningful learning for your students through the use of games! If you can read ahead the required textbook for the class, Reality is Broken, you will be better off because once you start the class, everything is new and you may get a bit overwhelmed. Feedback is great in this class, so ask many questions and definitely stop by the Suggested readings page in this wiki. If you are new to gaming like me, just relax, get ready to uncap your creativity and enjoy. Good luck! Fiorella Velarde

After working on the class for about 2 weeks, I have found that it can be a bit addicting. At first is seems very overwhelming, but once you figure it out, you keep on wanting to do new things. My advice is to look at all the choices for the quests before starting any of them. Also plan to spend about 2 hours at a time on the site at a time since there is so much to do. I kept saying to myself, I'll just finish this badge and be done, and then find myself completing 1-2 more badges or quests. Also make sure you have specific students or classes in mind when completing some of the quests. It makes it easier to focus on the task. Good luck, have fun, and be creative!!

Sara Zwiefelhofer

This class was a nice change of pace from D2L. I think the best piece of advice to follow is do not panic or worry that you won't figure it out. You will. The format is different, but similar to what the other graduate courses offer. The best part of the class is that it is self paced. You can do the work at the pace you need to complete it – there are no due dates. Be sure to do the rewards in addition to the quests. I checked in every day. Feedback from the instructor was quick, usually less than 24 hours. I also worked on assignments in a Word document and then pasted my information. This class offers insight differently than most UW-Stout classes. You definitely feel in control.

Melody Krouse


 * __**
 * Steve from Chicago**

Okay, I have been in the class for a couple days now. Talk about self-paced and discipline. Ultimately, my biggest piece of advice is time management. Make a schedule and goal and stick to it. For example, try to finish something every day. Whether it be posting a reply to a discussion board or completing a task. Secondly, since the class is self-paced, don't be afraid to dive right in. This class is excellent for someone like me: a person who likes to dive right in.

Either way, the results of the readings and activities are extremely revealing and force some reflection as to how you can either improve your online or traditional classroom (or both!). The potential for improving your craft is there, all you need is an open mind!

Advice Column

This is a space for students to leave advice for future students. In other words, what do you wish you had known when you started the game scores… That you can pass on to the next section? Put your ideas here and remember to sign with your secret squirrel code.

I'm probably not the best candidate to provide advice for future students, but I'll tell you about my experiences with this class and hopefully it will help you. You really need to explore the content of the class at the onset of the materials being made available to you. Read the information and view the videos MULTIPLE times, taking notes on the items you view as trivial components because those trivial components really do become large factors in your ability to complete the badges and quests with justification and understanding. Befriend at least one person in class so they can become a support unit if the going gets tough (thank you, Cyndi). Ask questions when you are confronted with problems - don't attempt to solve them yourself, especially if it wears you down and frustrates you. Dr. Manning and your peers may have an easy response for you. "Aha moments" seem to come frequently in this class. Just when you think you grasped a concept, there is another task you discover, tackle and conquer. Take it one day at a time and relish your newly discovered knowledge. Hopefully it will be a fun journey. I know it has been for me. Good luck. Joanie Fisher

I don't know how I missed it or whether it was said but I found it very helpful to use the navigation words at the top of the home screen to get a sense of what was expected. I was extremely overwhelmed at first because I was new to this type of activity, but once I clicked on the "Badges" and "Quests" and began to read and attempt them, things got easier. Clicking around and allowing yourself to enjoy the journey is definitely a plus.

It will take you a little bit to figure out how the course works, don't panic! It is a "game" and that is part of the learning. If you click around, you will find the directions that you need and will be rewarded for your efforts. The course is a "game" so Play the game!

First, try to watch the tutorial videos, and do not try to jump ahead. Just follow the step the instructor give. Like anything, first you will fell intimidated, then you will understand everything before you complete level 1. Try to set up a time per week, so you can follow up with badges and levels.

As with any online course, even though you work through the course / Badge Stack at your own pace, you'll find it extremely helpful to schedule your time during this four week course. The work load picks up, as would be expected, in the 3rd and final level (Master) and it's easy to find yourself running low on time as the course approaches conclusion! Don't worry, it's fun and addictive! :-) Personally I would suggest getting through the first two levels within the first two weeks and allowing yourself the last half of the class to complete the Master Quests! Enjoy!
 * DD505**
 * DD505**

Amy Rominiecki Make sure you check the Reward Badges area of the game to earn those important Reward Points you'll need to get the next level. Do this by clicking on **Badges** at the top of the screen **--> Reward Badges** on the left side of the screen. The list will appear and you can scroll down the list to see which ones you'd like to try for. Click on each one to find our more about what you need to do to earn the points. Some reward points will come to you automatically (like the Friendship Starter or First Post points), but others you'll need to submit an answer to and then be awarded the points. Good luck!

=Lydia Chen= At the start, I thought the Discussions forum was an open forum for posting freely. I didn't realize that completing a Question would automatically point me to post my thoughts on an aspect of the quest.

Absolutely, don't forget the Rewards because they are FUN to complete and a requirement to LEVEL UP. I forgot the latter when I was trying to move from level 2 to level 3.

This class is very useful and fun once you get the hang of it. It takes a little getting used to though. Watching the videos really helped me to figure things out. While taking this class, I was taking other classes, so I didn’t get as deep into the class as I wish I had. If I did it again, I would explore the discussion boards and the Rewards more. They are very informative, they will add some fun, and add a sense of community to the class. Heidi


 * One tip I would give to avoid feeling overwhelmed it to realize that you don't have to do all the quests under each badge. This class is like being dropped off at an amusement park. There are many different places to go and tons of things to do. You will have a ton a fun along the way, but don't get caught up in one area to long. An important place to be familiar with is BADGES.

Badges by Level- These are like the chapters in a book. (You have to complete all the Levels to successful complete the class)

Quest Badges- These are similar to all the activities and lessons within each chapter. (You don't have to complete every Quest- each Level specifies how many quests are required to complete the level)

Reward Badges- Are similar to extra credit, to deepen the understanding the chapter or unit. (If you are competitive- you will find yourself clicking on this link often!)

Dena Budrecki || ||

Melissa Magnuson-Cannady
 * Just jump right in! :-)** I have been taking online graduate courses through UW-Stout for several semesters now and was rather accustomed to those classes' format--so much so that I was a bit intimidated by the format of this course, especially because I really didn't consider myself a gamer...at the beginning. But, just follow the directions and take advantage of the videos...it's very clear and very fun what to do! And, you've got great support from the teacher and your fellow classmates!
 * Just jump right in! :-)** I have been taking online graduate courses through UW-Stout for several semesters now and was rather accustomed to those classes' format--so much so that I was a bit intimidated by the format of this course, especially because I really didn't consider myself a gamer...at the beginning. But, just follow the directions and take advantage of the videos...it's very clear and very fun what to do! And, you've got great support from the teacher and your fellow classmates!


 * Relax. No really, relax.** This course will be unlike any other you've ever taken, due solely to the Badgestack console. The badges are super-fun and addictive BUT even though the instructions under the Pacing link state that you can work at your own speed, if you want to get the most out of the Discussion forums, you have to stay on top of the assignments. Because as soon as you work through each assignment, you'll feel more comfortable interacting in the forums about the topic you've just completed. Also, a word about friending for the socially awkward: if you, like me, are terrible at human interactions even online, just friend everyone. Everyone. That way you know no one is wondering why you didn't friend them. And lastly, that makes it so much less awkward to comment on people's Journey posts. It's all handled and you can relax and enjoy knocking off the Reward badges.

Audrey Homan


 * Take the Plunge!** Thanks for all the advice on getting through this game. Definitely, take the time to watch the beginning of the class videos. They are well done and can alleviate a lot of confusion when beginning the class. The other suggestion is to click through the reward badges, to see which badges could be completed with minimal effort and those that may take some effort. Chose to complete one minimal and one that requires effort a day. I didn't feel as overwhelmed completing an easy and more difficult task. Be sure to respond to discussion and give replies. Above all, enjoy the experience is quite unique!

Monica from Orange Park, Florida


 * Start Early, Read Everything on the Site, Log in Often & Learn from Others**

Although you are free to complete the quests and earn reward points at your own pace, it is easier to interact with your classmates if you keep up to speed with the recommended schedule, as opposed to cramming later on. It doesn't take long to realize that interaction with peers is an integral component of the BadgeStack system. As someone who is playing catch-up midway through the course, I am regretting that I didn't take the time to log in earlier just to familiarize myself with the system, "meet" my classmates during the first couple days of the class, and understand the basic functionality of the game (such as the relationship between badges, quests, and reward points). Even in the online environment, if you don't show up to class for the first half of the semester, you feel like you're missing out on the bonding that took place between the rest of the students. If you are are the last one to add to a discussion thread, you can't really expect your classmates to go back and react to what you post, so it seems like you're not benefitting as much from the social interaction components of the source as those who commented earlier on. It's never too late to join in, but take it from me, the earlier the better!

Annie Armstrong, Chicago IL

First of all RELAX! This class is going to be an adventure in learning about games through quests and rewards. This style of class was very different from other online classes I had taken and I at first wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy learning in this format. After I explored for a bit on the Home, Dashboard and Badge screens, I started to get my bearings. Think of this course format sort of like the first time you visit a new place, everything is new and you don't know where everything is, but after you spend some time looking around, know where things are. Like others have advised, reading the course reading in advance will help you, both with background information and with time as you can focus completing quests without the extra reading too. The rewards are a fun way to break up the assignments and classwork. I went back and forth between the quests and badges each week and was motivated to see how many points I could earn. My last other bit of advice is to print out/save a copy of the "Quick Chart". This really helped me keep on track and help me organize what I had completed and what I needed to do.

Darcy Perry in Vermont

This class was so fun and inspiring! I don't think I ever had so much fun learning. It's great to learn how to use games for learning and assessment by actually playing a game yourself. I have so many new tools now, developed in less than 4 weeks. Here is my advice for you:
 * 1) Like the previous class said, you're confused at first but I promise you'll catch on and then you'll be hooked! I am not the most competitive person but this class brings it out in you.
 * 2) Look ahead as much as you can and figure out what badges you may pursue. This will help you when planning when and how you will do your activities.
 * 3) Utilize the online library, I never thought to do that in my other classes but it was extremely helpful. It's one of the perks of being a student.
 * 4) Keep resources, the ones given by the instructor and the ones you find doing research. They are treasures.
 * 5) Look outside the box when doing research. Not everything useful is on a traditional educator site.
 * 6) Read and reread. I spent extra time doing something unnecessary because I forgot I read it or I didn't read it thoroughly. There are lots of great resources including videos. Utilize them, they will help.
 * 7) Have fun and don't beat yourself up if you get behind. We had all paces in our class and I am one of the ones towards the back, but I'm almost done.! :-)

Gwen Spector in Dallas, TX