Selene Researcher to Keynote International Evaluation Conference
Thu May 8 2008
The project lead of the NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future's research into videogame design and assessment will be a keynote speaker at an international conference on evaluation.
Dr. Debbie Denise Reese, senior educational researcher at the Classroom of the Future™ at the Center for Educational Technologies, will address the First International Meeting of Evaluation for Mid-higher Education. The conference will be held Sept. 17-19 in Veracruz, Mexico. It is sponsored by Colegio de Bachilleres de Veracruz, the high school system of the state of Veracruz, which serves more than 60,000 students and employs more than 1,200 teachers.
Conference organizers have asked Reese to discuss how she proposes to evaluate the abilities of students in the 15- to 19-year-old age range as they play the Selene videogame. The Classroom of the Future created Selene last year to evaluate videogame learning and how NASA can best use videogames to teach math and science concepts. Reese said organizers want to compare the online evaluation methods being used in Selene with more traditional tests, such as the LLECE in Chile or the international assessment from PISA-OECD. Among other things Reese's design assesses whether students achieve a "flow" state—a measure of engagement—when they play a game.
Reese will present in English, and the conference will provide a translator. The meeting is focused on evaluation of academic knowledge and abilities and also on competencies for life and preparation for undergraduate level.
