Interview with a student.

Interview with a student.

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Teaching games from the perspective of a student. I wanted to see what kind of games students like the best so today I am going to ask my little sister some questions about learning and games. If this works well I think it would be good to ask more students of different backgrounds and ages.

Amelia: age nine third grade.

V- Do you play a lot of games at school?

A- Yeah

V- What kind of games do you play most often?

A- Uh, puzzles and connect four.

V- Do you play a lot of games that teach you things?

A- We play games like fast math and type to learn at the beginning of the day.

V- Do you like these kinds of games?

A- Sort of, there not the best but they’re good.

V- Do you play any games as a class?

A- Not really

V- Does your teacher try to make learning fun?

A- Yes

V-How does she do that?

A- For example when we were doing math we were doing a rays and we did them with candy, and um we also were doing a sentence game and when we got all around the game board we got to eat candy.

V- So you do play games...would you like school more and learn better if you played more educational games?

A- Yes

V- What kind of games would you like to play?

A- Smart board games!

V- Ok thanks, anything else you would like to say?

A- *Shakes tiger stuffed animal head* no

Educational Video Games for the iPad

Educational Video Games for the iPad

Posted by Unknown

          As technology develops, so do the uses that go along with it. This technology was integrated into educational systems to enhance learning. Now, many students are receiving iPads for educational use. However, one does not necessarily need the iPad to be distributed at school to use it for educational purposes. Many apps and games have been released for the iPad, and many of these are education-based.

          One type of education-based game is direct. This is the kind of game that teaches english, math, science, or some other topic through a straightforward, graphic lesson. I saw my 6-year-old cousin playing some of these on her iPad. It was basically just a group of interactive activities that taught various science subjects such as the water cycle, float v. sink, and plants. However, I don't feel she was actually learning anything since she just memorized how to get through all the activities without even listening to the directions. And she thought it was boring because of this. I would recommend having an adult play with the child, so that the kid might actually learn something. There is a large number of games of this sort to download, and are especially helpful for young kids.

          The other type of education-based game is a lot more popular with a larger audience. These would be puzzle games such as Unblock Me, Flow, and Four Pics One Word. They help improve critical thinking skills while still providing a challenging form of entertainment. However, because they do not teach a specific topic and are thus viewed as entertainment-only, these games are not as suitable to integrate into education systems as the first type.

          Many iPad games (or apps) are a good supplement to school education. Others may also improve a person's puzzle-solving skills. Also, they are not a hindrance to society in any way. This makes video games a great platform for learning.

How games teach students best.

How games teach students best.

Posted by Unknown

The Art and Science of Teaching / Using Games to Enhance Student Achievement

"Games are a regular part of students' lives, no matter what their grade level. Students play games throughout the day on their computers, the Internet, and their cell phones. One of the few places they don't regularly play games is in their classrooms. Although some teachers use games as a part of their instructional repertoire, most teachers do not, and those who do include them may not be using them to their potential."

I found this article by the  Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development very relevant because it says exactly what we have been trying to. Kids like games; introducing games into the classroom is an effective way of keeping them interested in their learning. 

This article did not discuss specific effective games but it did give ideas for making games more effective which included...not making the stakes too high, targeting specific topics with the game, and asking what students thought of the games. 

How to teach students using games.

How to teach students using games.

Posted by Unknown

How to teach students using games

This website helps break down the steps you need to take in order to teach students using a game or other activities.
You need to have a clear plan of what you want to teach as well as how in order to keep the learning on track. Giving the game a story line can help keep students more interested in the game. Rewards and prizes are a good idea in almost every aspect of life. Adding one into the game also keeps students more interested and encourages competition. Creating a physical game element once allows you to use it again and again with your students. I'm not exactly sure if I agree with the "don't let students choose their group" sentiment but there are definitely drawbacks to each view.

Tips For Teaching Students

Tips For Teaching Students

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Click on this link for a website that has some tips on teaching children Tips For Teaching Students