RIIKKA AURAVA
Researcher of games and game based education, teacher
MY WORK
GAME JAMS AND GAME MAKING
Game jams are events where people gather to make games together! While doing so, they learn things.
What I am trying to see, is how to organize game jams in classrooms and what kind of learning happens when we combine game jams and formal learning.
I have organized and studied several game jam events and am writing my PhD on the subject.
GAMIFICATION OF EDUCATION
Remember those worms or snakes on the wall of your childhood classroom, where everyone could add a section when they had read a book? Well, that's gamified learning. Nothing new, and definitely nothing to be scared of.
But there are other ways to do it, too. Some work for others, some have lasting effects, some bring about chaos (nothing wrong with that necessarily). If you want tips on how to gamify your classroom and get the effects you want, please contact me!
GAMES IN THE CLASSROOM
Games can be used in learning - and they do not have to be educational games to work! Board games, card games, outdoor games, roleplay, digital games, escape rooms, sports, or even some of them combined will surely make your classroom a more playful place to learn - and more effective one, too.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I am a researcher with a background in teaching. My research centers around games, game making and gamification in school environment.
I worked as a upper secondary school teacher for fifteen years before taking up a second career as a games researcher.
I am also an avid gamer, a mother of two, and a dice collector.
