The 8-Bit Instructor: How Super Mario Maker Can Help in the Classroom (EP025)

Download the episode here.

Episode 25

In this week’s episode, I look at some teaching lessons I’ve learned from playing Super Mario Maker. Plus, news and updates from Microsoft and Google; this week’s treasure chest; and, of course, your question of the week.

News & Updates

• Microsoft Edge updates
  • Sleeping Tabs feature to free up computer memory
  • Picture Dictionary and translate in Immersive Reader
  • Microsoft Bing: knowledge cards give quick, easy consumption of useful content
  • Web Capture allows you to use a digital pen or finger on touchscreens to draw on captured content in the browser
  • Proctorio is not an Edge add-on for secure testing online
• Google Workspaces
  • Adjust the Chat/Rooms panel in Gmail sidebar
  • Quickly navigate to active cells and ranges with the new range name box in Google Sheets

Treasure Chest: “I wish the ring had never come to me.”

• This year has really taken it out of probably all of us
• We didn’t want this, but this is where we are
• We have to make the best of what we have

Boss Battle: Super Mario Maker

• Level length
  • The average Mario level is a few minutes long
  • Look for shorter, quicker ways of assessing skills
• Story Mode
  • Early levels build the basic skills; then, combine skills together for greater challenges
    • Sometimes we have to go back to building blocks and then combine them together
  • Fun narrative to go along with it
    • Find little fun ways to add some narrative to your activities
• Course Mode
  • Players get to create their own
    • Don’t limit students to just answering questions
    • Let them create problems
  • You can play other players created levels
    • Let students share their creations with each
    • Let them quiz each other
  • Often significantly more challenging than the original
    • Kaizo levels
    • trial-and-error levels
    • Creativity – using items in unintended ways
    • Students may often come up with more difficult content than you would

Crew Members’ Board (#8BitCrew)

QOTW: What new principle can you try to implement in your classroom?

Use #8BitCrew on Twitter, tag me @comicsocks, or post longer stories in the comments section here.

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Check out my Google Classroom Udemy course.

Credits

Music by David Fesliyan (https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/)

• Intro/Outro: “Retro Platforming”
• Boss Battle: “Boss Battle Rock”
• Crew Member’s Board: “Pirate Dance”
• Wrap up: “Game Over” by Patrick de Arteaga

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