How I used to teach Mechanics
I'm always changing and improving on what I do, but in case y'all want the old stuff, here ya go.
Really, though, the new stuff is better.
If you want the old Mechanics presentation I used to use, here ya go: Game Mechanics Google Slides Presentation. This one has slides for each mechanic with games I have that also have the mechanics. Keeping this up to date was a pain and was ultimately not really helpful for students.
Really, though, the new stuff is better.
If you want the old Mechanics presentation I used to use, here ya go: Game Mechanics Google Slides Presentation. This one has slides for each mechanic with games I have that also have the mechanics. Keeping this up to date was a pain and was ultimately not really helpful for students.
OLDER VERSIONS OF THE MECHANICS PACKET THAT I DON'T USE
students are to draw a symbol or keyword to help them remember the mechanic. Next, they use the middle box to apply the mechanic to a practice theme. I try to keep my classroom fair, open, and democratic, but we often use The Kindly Secular Man Who Delivers Random Gifts In the Winter, and it's a really good one because you can brainstorm a million mechanics (and thus games from there). They turn it in when they complete it, and after we brainstorm theme and it's time to think about mechanics for their chosen theme, they will do the same thing in the third box in the packet. I hope that's not too confusing.
The regular packet has 42 mechanics and the modified has 20. The smaller packet has the more common mechanics (unless all you want are economic mechanics then the full packet is for you!). The instructions are written a little differently, and the modified packet has only the first two boxes (symbol/keyword and practice theme brainstorming). I'm a big picture thinker, most of the time, and I struggle to be specific sometimes as to what I want kids to do. I hope this all makes sense.
The regular packet has 42 mechanics and the modified has 20. The smaller packet has the more common mechanics (unless all you want are economic mechanics then the full packet is for you!). The instructions are written a little differently, and the modified packet has only the first two boxes (symbol/keyword and practice theme brainstorming). I'm a big picture thinker, most of the time, and I struggle to be specific sometimes as to what I want kids to do. I hope this all makes sense.
| student_mechanics_packet.docx |
| modified_student_mechanics_packet.docx |
Use this to keep track of your games' Mechanics
This Excel file shows all the games' mechanics so if a student is interested in a particular mechanic, they can go to the spreadsheet and look at what you have.
| strat_game_mechanics.xls |
Mechanics Quiz
I used to give kids a quiz over mechanics. Now, I use UnPub for them to brainstorm them, and it's more fun AND they kids really think about the different mechanics and how they can be used. But if you want to give them a quiz, use this one.
I really suggest you modify it. It's probably not that great.
I really suggest you modify it. It's probably not that great.