Plasma Games welcome packet (North Carolina House committee document)
Summary
A welcome packet from Plasma Games for Sci-Ops: Global Defense, a skills-based educational game that teaches chemistry and physical science concepts through turn-based strategy, filed as a North Carolina House committee document. It describes the game's use of videos, simulations, text and story-driven content tied to STEM careers, and its grounding in Bloom's taxonomy. The packet lists honors including a 2020 best learning game award from the Games and Learning Alliance and a Games for Change finalist listing, describes a study design, and closes with quotes from North Carolina educators.
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Full text
welcome packet
EQUIP YOUR TEACHERS with
sci-ops: Global Defense
virtual learning adventure
Sci-Ops is a skills-based educational game that teaches students Chemistry and Physical
Science concepts through a turn-based strategy game (like chess). Integrating multiple
modes of instruction (videos, simulations, text and story-driven content) within a cohesive
and immersive learning experience, and infused with real-world context and technologies,
the game connects learning to in-demand STEM careers and education pathways.
Players are motivated to develop mental models of core concepts, learn essential
terminology, and understand critical formulae. Players then make use of this knowledge
through high-level decision making (e.g., balancing tradeoffs in equipment upgrades and
taking strategic action in-game) in an engaging format that promotes self-paced learning.
pedagogy of sci-ops
Fuses science virtual and uses videos, engages students
in-class graphs, charts, on multiple
standards
simulations, instances and
with integration
text and other levels of all
modern, 3d, materials to
forms of media to Bloom’s
and engaging easily infuse fun
virtually deliver taxonomy.
[1]
game mechanics. into any concepts and
curriculum. relationships.
Honors & Awards
Games and Learning alliance
2020 best learning game National Science
foundation
Games for Change Award winning
2020 BEST Learning GAME
finalist
[1] Blooms, B.S. (1956). “Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook 1: The
https://play.plasma.games @playplasmagames Cognitive Domain.” New York: David McKay Co Inc.
Study Design
In the Spring of 2019, Plasma Games conducted in-class pilots with nearly 5,000 students
and 71 teachers pilots in 48 schools across 12 counties in North Carolina. The sample
extended from 7th grade science through 12th grade AP Chemistry, and is reasonably
representative of North Carolina’s and America’s students. The study included pre-test surveys
of students and parents 2-weeks out; a 30-minute in-class demo of Sci-Ops; and post-test
surveys of students and teachers.
Surveys included NC Department of Public Instruction end-of-course (EoC) chemistry questions,
measures of psychological motivation, and self-reporting of feedback on the game for liking.
Surveys and data collection were conducted with consultation from researchers at North
Carolina State University, who independently analyzed the data.
RESEARCH RESULTS
motivating ENGAGING effective
+19% increase in correct
+3-7% of students IMPROVED 72% of students liked
answers to End-of-course
THEir self-efficacy and the game and want
(EoC) questions after 20-30
utility in chemistry & Stem it in their class
minutes of gameplay
Addressing equity & Diversity
Students of all genders, races and socioeconomic status showed learning gains,
improvements in self-efficacy, and enjoyed playing Sci-Ops in their classroom. In
addition, females showed greater gains in self-efficacy (+3.6% vs. 2.8% for all students)
and African American students showed the greatest gains in Chemistry interest (+6.3%).
100
% of all teachers in the
study expressed an interest
in continuing to use sci-ops!
https://play.plasma.games @playplasmagames
This product changes life I was extremely impressed with I consider Plasma Games as a
trajectories towards the pairing of high-level graphic very supportive resource in
fulfulling STEM careers. design while merging rigorous teaching and my students consider
Legislators, please fund this content. The seamless it as an ingenious way of learning.
program for our students! integration of gaming
strategy along with practical -Elena Voicilia, Science Teacher
-Jessie Maglio, Science teacher chemistry concepts is in Rockingham County, NC
in wake county, Nc outstanding.”
-Ellis Ayers, Executive
director Academic Services
in Avery County, NC
The growth they’ve shown
simply by using it... is huge. That
There is no game like Sci-Ops
is evidenced by data collected
as it fuses education and
during last year’s pilot study and
entertainment in a fun, unique
research effort.
gaming experience.
Plasma Games helps my
-Dr. Brian Hunnell, Assistant students’ consider STEM -James Brown, Science teacher
Superintendent in careers interesting, in harnett county, nc
Cleveland County, NC important and necessary
for 21st century learners.
-Enid Perez, Science
teacher in
Guilford county, NC Sci-Ops is going to pull in
Motivation and participation
those kids who never thought
is higher in my students
they had an interest or ability
because of Plasma Games.
in Chemistry. This is an area
-Grace Yusckat, Science teacher of need in our schools that
in Cumberland County, NC can DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE.
I love that this game includes
real scientists in North Carolina -Dr. Donna Cotton, Chief
with interesting jobs. This has the Academic Officer in
The game will inspire students to potential to inspire students Wilkes County, NC
pursue STEM college majors to pursue a STEM careers
and careers. that they may otherwise not
-Debbie Jennings, Career realize is possible.
Technical Education Director -Christina Pennington,
in Burke County, NC curriculum Coordinator
in Ashe County, NC I try to motivate my students to
learn complex concepts that many
of them feel like they can’t do. After
playing Plasma Games, many of
them feel like they can even
Plasma Games provides continue their science education
STEM learning in a gaming with a more in-depth
environment to increase Students will RUN to class chemistry course. The game is
student learning to play this game. empowering.
and retention.
-Renee Crandol, Science -James gardner, Science
-William gay, science teacher
Teacher in Edgecombe teacher in guilford
in Union county, NC
County, NC county, NC
My students have begun to My students love Plasma Plasma Games will be a
consider new career paths Games because: (1) it very valuable resource
after being exposed to them in doesn't feel like they are learning in improving and promoting
the game. Questions about while they are (2) It keeps them STEM programs.
what classes should they thinking and engaged (3)
take, etc. provides relevance to
curriculum and real -Chad Brooks, Science
world applications. Teacher in Cherokee County, NC
-Wendy Takah, High school
science teacher in Rowan
county, NC -Kimberly Mawhiney, Science
teacher in Currituck
county, NC
It has opened their eyes
to a different approach to
It’s more interactive than learning, and how a career in
our other virtual science could be fun.
Plasma games will provide
instruction my teachers tools to support
materials we have. -Christy Hall, Science teacher
their work in building &
in Alexander County, NC
diversifying the STEM
-Kathy Glasheen, workforce.
Instructional coach in
union county, NC -Kristina Rogers,
Sr. Administrator of
Secondary science in
Wake County, NC My students are more interested
in STEM and STEM careers after
using Plasma Games
Students will -Michelle parrish, Science
definitely be more engaged in teacher in Harnett county, NC
learning.
Plasma Games motivates
them to a higher learning
-Derek Lapiska, Chemistry
level, enables student to
teacher in new hanover
practice critical thinking skills,
county, NC Plasma Games is an
promotes meaningful
learning, and increases focus. excellent resource!
-Thomas Brown, High School
science teacher in watauga
-Sandra storch, science
county, nc
teacher in Rockingham
North Carolina students need county, nc
access to Sci-Ops to increase
their learning in chemistry. The
software makes learning tangible
and fun. Funding from the
legislation will equalize the We would greatly
opportunities across the state I introduced Plasma Games appreciate the support of
so all students will have equitable to my honors chemistry students our Legislators to help give
resources. and now they BEG to play our students access to
every time we have a Plasma Games.
spare moment.
-christy arrowood, -Jenna Regan, Secondary
instructional coach science -Rebecca cooper, high curriculum director of
in burke county, NC school science teacher person county, NC
in wilkes county, NC
Plasma games increases
Plasma Games’ level of Our Legislators need to pursue
student engagement in
meaningful content does not funding to offer this
learning science. The
exist in other games. learning resource for the
integrated gamification and
students of Caldwell County
competition support multiple
Schools as well as
-Heather Dietzler, Chief opportunities for students
others across the state.
academic Officer in to build background
cateret county, NC knowledge and/or
review previous content. -keith hindman, Middle
school director in
-Dottie hayes, Instructional caldwell county, nc
facilitator in Caldwell
county, NC
I believe this is the direction our
lessons need to take in order to
engage students, keep interest high,
and keep students thinking
critically about science content. Plasma Games can pique the
It is more in a gaming format kids’ interest in a STEM career
-Dr. Toni witherow, Math & versus other types of resources when they didn’t realize it
science director in richmond we have tried. We know existed before.
county, nc students respond better to
games rather than -Chris conway, instructional
learning tools. coach in union county, NC
-stephanie horton, director
of curriculum & Instruction
in Bertie County, NC
My students when they
come to my class, the jobs
they only know are servers in
the restaurants or grocery Plasma Games is more
stores and what they want is to self-contained / more relevant
just leave school when they than other resources while
reach their legal age to work. My students need this type actually being a game.
I have seen an increase of of learning
students aiming to finish a as they have grown up -nick hendley, science teacher
college degree or a amidst computer in granville county, nc
university degree. gaming and find it makes
learning fun.
-jonas almerino, science
teacher in wayne county, nc -scott evans, science
teacher in watauga
county, nc This has turned out to be a
wonderful platform to inspire
students in chemistry. I have found
that both high-ability students
and lower-ability students
Sci-Ops will pique the interest have enthusiasm for the game
I think that this will be a and the science involved. I
in students....This will inspire
fantastic program model that highly recommend as a supplement
students to pursue STEM
we would love to scale for many, to any science curriculum.
degrees in college.
many classrooms beyond
our science classroom.
-Kelly delong, director of -adrienne evans, science
k-12 math and science in teacher in Columbus
-donnell cannon, Principal county, NC
richmond county, nc in edgecombe county, nc
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