Current Language Games

Current Language Games

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Language games already exist, and I decided that I need to know what language games already exist for children to get an idea for what a language game I create would look like.

1. Word Puzzles. These can be fill-in-the-blank, or other formats. These games require certain words to be found to complete objectives.
2. Reading comprehension. These games require players to look at a page of text and identify what certain words mean using context clues or prior knowledge.
3. Word/Letter sounds. These games use audio to help players understand how words and letters sound when spoken.
4. Synonym/Antonym. These games require players to find which words are opposites of each other or similar to each other.
5. Crossword Puzzles. These games require players to find a word to fit in a certain space using definition and word length as the only clues. As more words are discovered, words that cross other words also give hints to what another word may be. These can be as simple or as advanced as the gamemaker wishes.

These are just a few examples of the hundreds of language games that exists, but these are extremely common types.

Language Games: How Should We Make Them?

Language Games: How Should We Make Them?

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Earlier, I made a post on the effectiveness of teaching a secondary language or advanced language to children at a young age. Since their brains are more capable of language learning, it makes sense to do this. The last step is how to make the game. I can think of several options.

1. Flash Cards. Good, reliable, but boring flash cards. This is probably the easiest method, but it fails to captivate children to the extent that it should.
2. Some form of board game. Whenever you roll the dice and land on a space, you draw a card and attempt to define the word. It can be in a foreign language or an advanced word. If it is defined correctly, some benefit could be given. If not, the child can write the definition down and use it should the word turn up again. Board games can be extremely captivating for children, given that they are done correctly.
3. Flyswatter. Words appear on a canvas produced by a projector, an instructor calls out the word's definition or meaning in the students' current language, and the first one of the two to hit the correct word gets a point for their team. Some students may find this boring, but others find the idea of challenge exciting.

Other options exist, of course, but these three seem the best on a gamemaker's standpoint. I may update this list if I think of anything new.

Children's Mindsets: Using Language Study in Children's Games

Children's Mindsets: Using Language Study in Children's Games

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The developing child's mind is an interesting subject to analyze. The most interesting aspect of developing infant and toddler's brains are capable of learning a language at a much faster rate only by listening. An adult never has to take a baby or toddler to a language instructor, they are capable of teaching themselves, in a way. Whereas adults and teenagers must go through rigorous learning, memorizing, and testing to comprehend another language. Even after the innate period of language learning is over, a four year old with a decent vocabulary in their native language can still learn another language much quicker than an adult.

Now, what does this have anything to do with children's educational games? For starters, if the game was targeted at children from 3-5 years old, having this game help them understand another language besides their own would help if the child needed to be bilingual. Playing this game along with teaching them basic vocabulary in the desired language to be learned would help them develop the second language rather quickly.

What if, though, the child didn't need to be bilingual or their parents did not find it valuable enough? The game could also help them learn advanced English vocabulary, if that is their native language. The young brain's ability to learn languages does not have to be two or more, it can simply be one. This one language, however, can be refined very well and give the child an edge in their early-level English classes.

Mission Statement and Group Roles

Mission Statement and Group Roles

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This blog will be the place where we submit our research of children's learning techniques and how to make entertaining games academically beneficial towards their development.

Group Roles:
Ryan- Designing any physical games, Researching current educational games
Victoria- Researching effective learning techniques,creating game prototypes
Jordan- creating game topics, proofreading/editing games
Lindsey- Making games more appealing and kid friendly

Technology vs. Paper -- How it is effecting learning

Technology vs. Paper -- How it is effecting learning

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Future Plans: Jordan

Future Plans: Jordan

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The likelihood of me continuing with my current story are very slim. I have just about ran out of ideas on what to post, but I have several ideas for new stories. Expect to see a change in setting, character, and storyline in upcoming posts.

Chapter Two - Love

Chapter Two - Love

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love

 [luhv] noun, verb, loved, lov·ing.

noun

1.

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2.

a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, asfor a parent, child, or friend.

3.

sexual passion or desire.

4.

a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person;sweetheart.

5.

(used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, orthe like): Would you like to see a movie, love?

Nothing. This did me nothing. I mean, of course I know love's definition, but I can't even begin to grasp the word as a whole. Usually I have a strong lead after reading its definition, but I still could not figure this word out.

Maybe I'm missing the point entirely. Perhaps love runs deeper than the word advertises. What is love, anyway? I cracked open my thesaurus to take a look at some synonyms for it.

Synonyms:	Adulation, affection, allegiance, amity, amorousness, appreciation, ardor, attachment, cherishing, crush, delight, devotion, enjoyment, fondness, friendship
Antonyms:	dislike, hate, hatred

* = informal/non-formal usage

None of these words even scratched the surface of what love could potentially be. Love must be something stronger than a great desire or attraction for something or someone.

Love must run deeper.

But how? And why? I still didn't understand in the slightest. There had to be something that I have or do love.

My jar. My jar dictates how I go about my day. My jar gives me insight into the unknown, it gives me a guiding light down a dark path. Do I love my jar? No. I appreciate it; I like it.

So the dictionary and thesaurus approach failed to work. It was time for some field research.

I'm Jordan, I'm Helping! A Helpful Analysis of Progress

I'm Jordan, I'm Helping! A Helpful Analysis of Progress

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Hey all! Today, I'll be analyzing everyone's progress and our overall progress. Note that the posted content changes weekly; we'll post stories one week and analyses another week.

– Jordan: I suppose I have some personal bias in regards to myself, but I believe that I am doing a decent job for what it's worth. I enjoy my story topic and the way I execute it. If I begin to have problems then I'll be sure to post.

– Victoria: Above par chapter length, interesting lead-in chapter. Overall very impressed, not much else to say on that note.

– Ryan: I feel like your content could be longer and more immersive. Currently I have no idea where your story is going to go from where you have started, or how it relates to your individual topic. Though, you might have already planned to make it relate to your topic in the coming chapters. Once those things are fixed, I'm sure your story will be great. Oh, and don't forget to tag your posts. You forgot again on your analysis.

– Lindsey: I enjoy how immersive your content is, even though it is only the first chapter. I would enjoy it if it was a tiny bit longer, and I have noticed several grammatical issues that could be resolved. Good work so far.

– Overall group progress: I'm liking how the group is progressing, and I am interested  to see where our stories go from here. Keep up the excellent work, and I can't wait to hear your group analyses!

Chapter One – Beginning

Chapter One – Beginning

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¹be·gin·ning

noun \bi-ˈgi-niŋ, bē-\

1

: the point at which something begins : start

I have always been fascinated with words. People usually disregard the importance of words, but words could not be more important. They compose the sentences we speak. They provide meaning for a confusing world. This is why I immerse myself in words, studying them. What purpose do words have unless I understand them.

That is what brings me back to my jar again. The jar was the centerpiece of my life, the very foundation of what I live on. Why? The jar was filled with words. More words than any one person could imagine. Even I myself don't know how many words encompass that jar. Hundreds? Thousands? I do not know, nor do I care. I simply wish to learn each and every one of them. One paper slip at a time.

I began my occasional ritual of opening the jar, and retrieving a word. I made sure to make my selection completely random. I concede that the word I selected shocked me, to the least.

Love.

I never concerned myself with a life of love, nor have I immersed myself in it's definition. What is love, anyway? Is it something you like, or is it more complex than that? I stared at the tiny paper slip, trying to pry the secrets from the very depths of it.

I needed to study this.