Chapter 7 brought up one of the most important concepts and concerns with children today. This would be games within the classroom, I have chosen three concepts to reflect upon.
1.) Teaching problem solving with computers
2.) Games as learning resources
3.) Strategies for using games with students
Computer homework can be used for many real life situations. Teachers need to create homework that is challenging and makes the students think. By creating problem solving homework assignments teachers are helping students develop strategic thinking. Teachers can do this by creating websites with games that challenge the students. Games could be simulation games, mathematical games, or puzzle games. I remember a riddle called the river crossing, my 6th grade teacher gave me this assignment when I was younger. They have now created a computer game called The River Crossing Game, by adding games such as this into your lesson plans you are creating problem solving assignments with computers.
I have attached a link for The River Crossing Game for you to enjoy.
When it comes to games within the classroom many parents are upset about this. I am a mother and I will admit I was unsure about games within the classroom. After reading chapter 7 I have to say games can be very useful within the classroom. Teachers can create their own games to engage students to learn. Some students get very bored in classrooms especially with teachers that just lecture all day. By creating games and adding them into your lessons you are catching students attentions and getting them active within your lessons. You can even allow your students to create their own games on websites such as Scratch. This allows students to use problem solving skills as well as allowing them to be creative. I have created a simple example of a way to create your own learning game for your students.
Created on WWW.scratch.mit.edu By Mylea Scuderi
When using games within your classroom you need to make sure you use appropriate games. Make sure all games allow individual work, group work, and problem solving. You need to teach your students that games are not about winning or losing, they are about learning. As a teacher you should always play the games you are assigning to your students, so that you know what the students should do incase if they need help. This also gives you the chance to see how the students can interact with each other and the game. An important thing to remember when choosing a game is to make sure the game offers many different skills, you do not want to offer games that only develop one skill.
Resources:
BrainDen.com - River Crossing Puzzles and Adult Brain Teasers. (2014, September 21). Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://brainden.com/crossing-river.htm
Howzit, S. (2011, February 11). Computers in Japan. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Scuderi, M. (2014, September 21). Scratch - Digital Badge #E. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/27089243/#player
LOVE your created Scratch game! :) What a great start to creating with children, as well. Many think that coding and some of the mathematical concepts needed to create such games are out of reach for children, but you can see from exploring the Scratch website that many use it as a place to explore...and what great learning is happening there! :)
ReplyDeleteYour reflections about the use of gaming in the classrooms are well targeted. I believe we will see more and more use of games in the true learning sense (rather than edutainment) in the future - glad you are well-prepared for it! And thanks for reminding me of the River Crossing problem solving games (both analog and digital versions are great!).