What videogames can teach us about assessment?

I label this post as "non-research" because it is not related to my dissertation. However, it is important to my work in IDM research in Education because from where I come from, educators here have been grappling with how best to design and implement alternative assessment and how IDM can facilitate the process. So this post is like a bookmark in my "online diary", pointing and reminding me of James Gee's excellent work on studying what videogames can teach us about alternative assessment.

Why I say alternative assessment? Personally, I feel traditional assessment or assessment that we all familiar with will be around for many years to come. Efforts to explore alternative assessment are most welcome not only that they show us how learning should be assessed but also to help move public opinion. Alternative assessment will continue to work in the fringe of schools' assessment of learning until the public are ready to embrace it.

There is a series of four articles altogether. The first one is the pic above: Rise of Nations: A Model of Assessment, where Gee identifies seven points what videogames can teach us about assessment. In his second article: Games as Their Test, Gee brings it to our face why can't assessment and learning be one and not two separate entities. Like in games, games itself is assessment, and playing and learning is assessment, all part of a complete whole. In his third article, the title already suggest what it is all about: Assessing Development, Not "Static Stuff". In the last article: Appreciating What the World Say Back to Us, Gee pokes us to relfect back on our fascination with assessing fact (he calls this fascination "fact fetish"). He calls for the need to assess learners' respond in advancing their learning further from feedback they receive.

I love Paul Pots and Susan Boyle!!!

I have been watching snippets of performances in Britain Got Talent show in youtube every time I take a break from my writing. I must say, Paul Pots and Susan Boyle got my votes. Excellent voice! Simon is right. It is exciting to find ordinary people, not a professional entertainer, but with a talent they didn't know they have and when they start performing, they're just brilliant to describe.
Well done Paul and Susan!

Culture Unplugged Video

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Worth your time to watch this. Don't forget to invite your kids to join too. Good visual reflection.

Bigger than Braveheart!

Oh you just have got to watch this (click on pic, pls). Very inspiring! Tears well in my eyes when I hear her sing. Tell me if you experience the same. A welcome distraction to my writing. I am firm believer that each and everyone of us are special. If only we could be less cynical, open-minded and see beyond a person appearance, else we would miss how special a person can be.

More on her can be found here.

Life is short

This is a welcome distraction from my research work. I received an email yesterday about Katie Kirkpatrick. Well, what happened to her may not be news to many already because it happened like five years ago. But for me, I didn't know about it. Anyway, I thought it will be a good reflection for me whetever I lose sight of the big picture, the most important thing in life, so I put it here in my blog. Not to forget at least a good reflection for all who visit my blog.

The Bride was beautiful post describes nicely what happened to Katie

Cancer had to wait.

21 year-old Katie Kirkpatrick Godwin held off her cancer so she could have her happiest day of her life. She had battle her cancer but it always returned. She had to use an oxygen tank to breath, the pain the back was so strong in broke though the morphine and her organs were shutting down. Yet all this was not able to stop her from marrying Nick Godwin who'd loves her from 11th grade.

Katie got married on January 15, 2005 five days lated she died. That's how love can beat even the toughest sickness

The video is in Spanish I believe. I like it the background music so I choose it over another version in English. Many people blog about her. This particular one may be of interest to you.

masterwordsmith-unplugged: THE SHORT LIFE OF KATIE KIRKPATRICK

The future of Indonesia

I just got to blog about about her. She was my former student, a great joy to teach! I have loads of nice things to say about her... intelligent, pleasant-looking, focused, strong-willed, humble, helpful, committed, and so on and on....As I remember back then, she belonged to a very special batch of Indonesian students that I was fortunate enough to have. They are all very good students with great personalities and they did well for their studies too.

I knew then that they are meant for something great. I recall numerous occasions where I would exhorted them to think about their social responsibility as citizens of Indonesia. At that time, it was a few years after Suharto had lost his grip on Indonesia and when his regime fell, Indonesians was struggling to find a strong leader that can bring stability back to their country. I told them that Indonesia is a sleeping giant, waiting to be awoken and it is their responsibility to return back to Indonesia after they have completed their studies and be the agent to bring change to Indonesia. And now, one of them is taking the lead by taking part in the coming election.

I had the pleasure of meeting her last year and continue maintaining contact with her through email and msn. I love her political slogan as it connects well especially with the growing youth population and generally with the public at large. Her experience for the election has and will continue to develop her further and I have full confidence that she will be elected into the legislative council and one day, heads the whole of Indonesia!

Nathania, I just can't say enough how I am so proud of you!

Four-star Liverpool crushes Manure

I just have to blog about this after reading a whole lot of &#@%$!$# sh@t from the press the past few days leading to this game. Despite Liverpool's emphatic 4-0 victory (and remember, 5-0 aggregate!) over the most celebrated and successful team in Europe, Real Madrid, in mid-week while Manure luckily enough to score 2 goals against Inter Milan who hit the post twice in that game (had those two gone in we will see Inter Milan in the last 8 instead of Manure), papers and sport websites keep writing off Liverpool's chance of winning this game.

Those journalists (they are all Manure fans) should remember that when I started supporting Liverpool, Manure at that time had not won the league for 36 years. What is 19 years of LFC's waiting compare to Manure's 36 years!!! Anyway, I was at seven heaven when I heard "You Never Walk Alone" deafening the whole Old Trafford towards the end of the game, and even echoed at the empty section of OT left behind by Manure fans when the game was not over yet!(where's your loyalty people!). I can be excused for thinking that the game was played in Anfield and not OT. Hahaha

I wonder whether Schemeical still think Manure can win the Champions League playing like they did. And Rooney, please hate us more. *evil grin* T. Smyth, this is a smack on your fat lips.

Ok, enough said. My apologies for this emotional outburt. I just have to let it out and tell the whole world about it. BTW, Liverpool ....YNWA!!!!!