Exploring the Affordances of Role in the Online History Education Project "Place out of Time:"
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Exploring the Affordances of Role in the Online History Education Project "Place Out of Time:" A Narrative Analysis A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) In the Department of Educational Studies College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services 2014 by Jennifer E. Killham BS. Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2004 M.A. University of Cincinnati, 2009 Committee Chair: Prentice Chandler Abstract This qualitative, collaborative inquiry project explored the affordances of role enacted in Place Out of Time (POOT), an online, historical character-playing activity designed to promote deeper engagement with historical thinking and perspective taking. The overview of the dissertation presented in Chapter 1 is followed by three distinct literature reviews on history education, POOT, and games and roleplay. Methodologically, the principles of practitioner inquiry guided this work. This dissertation aimed to improve the educational activity of POOT by answering organic, emergent questions participants had about their experiences during and after participation. This research occurred in two different phases. During phase one, participants expressed a desire to understand the tensions around their firsthand experiences of portraying someone other than themselves. Phase two addressed the opportunities and challenges related to the inclusion of fictional, controversially portrayed, and artistic characters. Consequently, a more targeted investigation into the dimensions of character-play was conducted in phase two. These tensions were worthy of such an in-depth investigation because preliminary research revealed character selection impacted participant performance and the assessment of this performance. Participants included K-12 students enrolled in POOT through a participating middle school or high school classroom. Adults in related or supportive roles were also subjects in this research. Data was drawn from semi-structured interviews, and triangulated with written communications, online participation in POOT, online postings on support sites, and instructional support documents from iterations of POOT taking place between Fall 2010 and Fall 2012. Narrative data, as the primary data source, was analyzed using a polyvocal interpretation technique called McCormack’s Lenses. The use of McCormack’s Lenses involved four separate readings of data, listening for (1) narrative processes (words), (2) language (structure of words), (3) context, and ii (4) moments (epiphanies). Data was managed using NVivo. Case histories were then used to present the polyvocal interpretations. The implications of this work are intended to influence the understanding of online playful learning exercises involving character-play and historical thinking in history education, and in turn make these exercises more accessible for educators to implement in their own classrooms. Further, this research sought to improve POOT training material. iii © Copyright by Jennifer E. Killham 2014 All Rights ReservedDedication iv In loving memory of my grandparents, Andy and Claire Killham With their sacrifices, my education was made possible To my former fan club president, The late Mario “Doc” Reda You knew I would arrive at my destination To the all of my POOT participants, Especially Sue, Thank you for sharing your stories v Acknowledgements To begin, I would like to wholeheartedly extend my gratitude to my faculty advisors, Dr. Vanessa Allen-Brown and Dr. Prentice Chandler. To Vanessa Allen-Brown, who took me in at a time when I felt orphaned in the academy—you provided me stability, guidance, and Honey Nut Cheerios when I needed them most. Vanessa, thank you for sitting me down and telling me I was going to finish and “let’s keep moving.” To Dr. Prentice Chandler, for your added insight into teacher preparation and history education that I had not considered beforehand—thank you for accepting my invitation to work together in my time of great need. My work became measurably better with the sharing of your insight. May there be many years of working together ahead. I would also like to thank my committee members Dr. Jeff Kupperman and Dr. Sean Duncan for the hours they spent reading my work and providing me with instrumental feedback. To Jeff, who was a stabling force during graduate school—thank you for pushing me to think creatively about my research, inviting me to meet your lovely family and neighbors, and always answering my phone calls. To Sean, who was my most rigorous critical reader—this dissertation greatly improved under your guidance. To all, you were just the right combination of committee members for me. I want to make space upfront to acknowledge additional key mentors: Dr. Stephen Sunderland and Dr. Kelli Jette for the long hours they spent with me since 2007 helping me to be a better student, teacher, and person. I am indebted to Steve for the weekly meetings we had crafting ideas on game development, improving my lesson plans, and for our time in the Peace Village. Steve, you were always one of my biggest professional supporters. Thank you for knowing what to say at the right time. I am forever grateful for Kelli Jette’s friendship, professional advice, and for taking my phone calls. Thank you for letting me into your classroom vi to teach for the Preparing Future Faculty mentorship program. When my dissertation is signed off on, we will finally have our toast. I would like to thank Jeff Kupperman’s colleagues from the Interactive Communications and Simulations group at University of Michigan, Dr. Jeff Stanzler and Dr. Michael Fahy. Jeff, you helped me see the world full of opportunities. Inspired by you, I posted a sign above my desk that reads, “Where are the opportunities?” Michael, you shared your infinite wisdom about all of the things that matter to me about POOT. Gentlemen, thank you for the mentorship, trust, belief in my abilities, and use of the POOT site. I am grateful for the financial support of the Glendale Heights Jr. Women’s Club, Senator Pankau’s Illinois General Assembly Scholarship, the Covenant Foundation, and the University of Cincinnati (UC) Center for Jewish Education and Culture. I would like to acknowledge the diligence and organization of those I consider to be the backbone of my institution, Beverly Reese, Michelle Jones, and Amuna Yisrael from the School of Education, as well as Alphonzo, Cheryl, and Lincoln in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) library and the amazingly patient and skilled tutors at the UC Academic Writing Center. These are the people I could not do without! The most important people in my life, my family, have blessed me beyond belief; I would like to thank them. To my mom, who has always been the first person I think to call when I am sick—thank you for your healing hugs. To my father for his steadfast support and reminders that what he wants most is for me to be happy—without your Buick LeSabre I would have been stranded. To my grandparents, Claire and Andy Killham, who I believe helped make this all possible, and to whom I am forever grateful. Thank you for teaching me to raise my hand. To my Grandma Toni, who taught me to set my heart on something I believe in. To my Aunt Marilyn, for checking in on me, providing words of wisdom, and for reading almost my entire dissertation vii overnight when she knew my defense date was set. To my Aunt Sandy, who knows how to catch my grammar errors and was more than willing to help read my papers throughout graduate school. To my brother Andy, my very first student when we used to play school in the basement of Jacobsen, and to my other siblings Lauren, Julie, Steve, and Michael who are very special to me. There are several instrumental people for which a deep appreciation is most fitting. To Hal Bouma, the kind deed giver—you saved my life by recovering important data off of my computer after everyone else said it was lost and who stayed up late to read this dissertation before I hit send. Thank you for driving five hours to save my data. To Rob LaFluer, you were my beacon of hope, source of endless optimism, and the caregiver of ‘ol Gnome1. Thank you for staying in touch since we met in 2002 and giving so much of yourself to our friendship. To Roger and Kyler who supportively reminded me that the dissertation had to be prioritized. To Dana Ng for the 90-day challenge, repeatedly telling me to hang in there, feeding me, and our trips to the library and Starbucks. Dana, our dissertation proposals felt like an adventure we conquered together. And, without you, I would starve. To Fatih Destebaşı, for your strong work ethic, and inspiring me to want to work at all hours of the night to get the job done. Fatih, keep typing! To John Stegall for putting in the long hours—I recall the time you stayed on campus with me until 4a.m. so I could finish my Dutch application and for nudging me to reward hard work with a scoop of Jenny’s Ice Cream. To Ian McKenzie, you believed in me as a conference volunteer for the Game Developer’s Conference in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Through this experience I met key people in the field of games who have shaped the way I think about the material covered in this dissertation. You also taught me that being my best self is a daily commitment. viii I have been supported by my dear friends who turned into critical readers after liking my Facebook status updates about my dissertation. To Brian Stanfield, my longest standing critical reader. You helped me get into graduate school and stay in graduate school, all with only having your car towed once.