Classroom Game Design: Paul Andersen at TEDxBozeman

Paul Andersen has been teaching science in Montana for the last eighteen years.  He explains how he is using elements of game design to improve learning in his AP Biology classroom.  Paul's science videos have been viewed millions of times by students around the world.  He was the 2011 Montana Teacher of the Year and he is currently a science teacher at Bozeman High School.  For more information on Paul's work visit http://www.bozemanscience.com.

Paul Andersen has been teaching high school science in Montana for the last seventeen years.  He has been teaching science on YouTube for the last three years. Paul began his career teaching all the science classes at a small rural school in northern Montana. Paul is currently an AP Biology teacher and technology mentor at Bozeman High School.  Paul uses technology and game mechanics to increase engagement in his classroom.  Paul is the 2011 Montana Teacher of the Year and was one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

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• Category

  Education

[Philip Ky]

ONLY IF YOU WERE MY BIO TEACHER!

[SingingFleas]

BE MY TEACHER.

PLEASE. 

[hihihoho1234]

only the smart ones stay in class, other ones go to work in factories... not all get smart there.

[AuthorTess]

"Who would want to be in a class at the Vulcan Science Academy?" My very introverted son, that's who. When he saw that movie at about age 11 spoke right up in the theater and said, "I want to go to school there, Mom!" It's not for every kid but as a self-starter, excellent reader, and dedicated gamer, he would have driven off like a rocket in Mr. Anderson's class. Like all good Vulcans, though, he is still trying to learn a big lesson from this video: failure is part of the process---it's okay.

[theFickleGuy]

this is just one perspective..., in asia, either china or japan or both, they have much more rigorous and fail is not ok teaching methods. its very disciplined there and they create very smart children like a factory. just different perspectives on things, u cant say either is wrong. i just wanted to remined ppl

[martinez8290]

There's no such thing as being 'too smart', though there is such thing as being 'too stupid (for something)'. ;) And this 1% is just as important (if not more) as the rest 99%.

[renuka korvi]

but watchin videos of mr andreson really make things much more clear den wat v get frm r books.... der r 1% in 100 hu dnt need ne xtr stimulation.... may b dey r too smrts.. but evry 1 r nt....!

[renuka korvi]

i jsss love u

[sunsetawayJ]

i love my primary school bio teacher. he made our names into riddles and had us guess. the most interesting teacher i've ever met!

[Mista Freshvibes]

I've thought about this idea a lot strangely. I thought it was normal to think about better ways to learn but maybe not?

[Melissa Rentchler]

Many low socio-economic public schools are aligned with this comment. This can be those schools' Principal's silent agenda for job security, continued funding from State and Federal agencies concerned with the lower scores of these students, and those Principal's focus on NOT thinking outside of the box and teaching for a whole, rounded student. This is my personal experience of recent. I've been in shock since this is not what I spent big bucks to take into my teaching work.