Cisco Networking Academy
Game Update
Dennis C. Frezzo, Ph.D
Senior Manager, Instructional Research & Technology
Networking Academy Learning System Development
Presented to ITU Youth Forum October 8, 2009
Agenda
• Why Games? Student-Centric, Constructivist Learning
– Research (recruitment? Engagement? Retention?). Toolkit of Choices.
• Cisco Games
– Learning@Cisco Arcade (“Mind Share”);
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/index.jspa
– Cisco MyPlanNet
www.cisco.com/go/myplannet
• Academy Games
– Netspace (upgrades!) https://www.academynetspace.com/index_flash.php#
– Flash Games in Courses (see D4; game-like activities elsewhere)
– PT Multiuser Games (very active research area, King of the Hill, Relay Race,
Open U experiments, “(Model) Internet on the (Real) Internet”
– R&D on Mobile Devices (on our research agenda)
• Entrepreneurial Game Prototype
– Affordances of simulation-based learning environments
– Demonstration
• Questions I have for You. (Your Homework)
• Questions You Have For Me/ Discussion
5 Key Affordances
(of Packet Tracer, for gaming)
1) Deep domain model affords possibilities for immerse, realistic problem solving
2) Authoring model (Activity Wizard, open xml state and resource descriptions and
sequence, user translatability) offer possibilities for many learner centric games,
not just one, to be cost-effectively created
3) State of the art underlying assessment model (Evidence Centered Design) allows
simple script like definitions of both technical and entrepreneurial proficiencies,
providing both the opportunity for realtime, complex feedback to the game player
and assessment possibilities for the game.
4) Intrinsic multiuser functionality of the underlying simulator can allow, at present
over a classroom LAN, opportunities for competitive, cooperative, and hybrid games
5) Finally Packet tracer (the underlying simulation-based learning environment) has
an API (application programming interface), meaning it can be used as a software
component in other programs (indeed this is how the game is built). But the
community is not limited to this set of gaming features; if they can program in Java,
C++, or Flash, they can modify the “presentation layer” around the simulation core
to suit local instructional adaptations. In our networking academy community of
practice, even a few instructors/institiutions availing themselves of the API could
lead to dramatic growth in the code.
6 Questions
• What is Cisco’s Networking Academy doing in the Area of
Gaming?
• Aren’t all games educational in the sense that learning is
involved, and hence shouldn’t schools accept games as an
integrated part of the learning environment?
• What platforms and affordances would you most like
games to be developed on?
• What’s the best domain-specific “educational” game you’ve
ever played and why
• What’s the difference between gaming and assessments?
• Are (educational) games for everyone?
• Please Reply to Dennis Frezzo, [email protected]