Lesson Plan for Teachers
Review course lesson 11
Students explore and discuss game reviews on YoutTube.
Start by eliciting all the elements of video reviews that have been discussed: content of videos, use of footage, style, organization etc. Ask student how many of these are relevant to game reviews, and what might be in a game review that isn’t found in any of the other kinds of reviews (game control, processor demand etc).
Task 1: Camera angle
Purpose: Students compare camera angles in review videos.
Procedure:
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In small groups, students work through the task in Task 1 handout.
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The examples used in this worksheet are not related to game reviews. Have students decide which camera angle is best for game reviews.
Feedback:
Task 1: Elicit students’ responses to the questions in the task. Allow them to make any other comments about the technical aspects of making a video (sound, lighting)
Material: Lesson 11 Task 1 handout
Timing: 20 minutes
Task 2: Organization of game reviews
Purpose: The analyse game reviews for their organization.
Background: Students have already analyzed the organization of film reviews. This task is a duplicate, but with a focus on game reviews.
Procedure:
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In groups, students work through Task 2 handout.
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Allow sufficient time for students to watch the 2 videos and analyse them. To complete the task, students may need to pause the video multiple times.
Feedback: Students report the sequence of content for each video and comment on whether the sequence is acceptable or whether it can be improved
Material: Lesson 11 Task 2 handout
Timing: 30+ minutes
Task 3: Game reviews
Purpose: To discuss various elements of video game reviews.
Background: Students have already analyzed the various elements of other kinds of reviews, so in this activity they use their skills to identify key features of video game reviews
Procedure:
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In groups, students work through Task 3 handout.
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Allow sufficient time for students to watch the 2 videos and analyse them. The tasks may require multiple viewings.
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Monitor and help students with language analysis as necessary.
Feedback: Allow students to give details of anything interesting they discovered from their analysis of the videos.
Material: Lesson 11 Task 3 handout
Timing: 45+ minutes
Task 4: Quality of game reviews
Purpose: Student discuss and decide on what makes a ‘successful’ or ‘good’ review
Procedure:
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Ask students how they know whether a video review is trustworthy or worth watching.
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Let them make a list of 5 criteria for identifying a good review.
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Working alone, students work though Task 4 handout. Allow students enough time to search for three relevant videos.
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Monitor and assist as necessary.
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Students report on what they found from their videos to one another in groups as necessary.
Feedback: Allow students to give their opinion on what makes a quality video, and how we can assess quality with/without watching the video. Students may report that the number of views is not a useful index. The nature of the comments may tell you something about the kind of viewers.
Material: Lesson 11 Task 4 Handout
Timing: 30+ minutes