Week 12: Two articles

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday... just 2 short work days away from a break.... well at least for me. I found this weeks materials to be particularly interesting, I do enjoy playing the occasional online or offline computer games... I was a huge fan of the Sims in high school (no, I did not purposely antagonize my Sims... though I know many that did).

The first article that I chose to read was titled Welcome To Our Virtual Worlds, and it was fascinating. I know, from my field experience, that computer games are being heavily used to promote learning. Just today I helped the gifted and talented coordinator find "federal budget simulators" for her 5th grade students. I wish I was in that class when I was their age because the games I found were completely amazing! Instead of reading the information in a boring textbook, riddled with words only geniuses would understand, have the students learn through a simulation. The games that were described in the article can have the student's progress tracked by the teacher, which makes for easy grading and assessing. The teacher will be able to monitor what the students are actually doing and make sure they are completing what they are required to. Overall, I think it's a great idea to implement simulation type games into the classroom. They can completely enrich a teacher's lesson plan, engage even the toughest students, and provide an enjoyable alternative to reading a text book. If appropriate, I would definitely try using these computer games within my own lesson plan.

The second article I read was titled students as designers and creators of educational computer games: who else? discussed not only students using computer games to compliment the curriculum and traditional classroom activities, but getting the opportunity to create their own! Students know what they like and know what they want out of a computer game. Given the tools needed, they will be able to come up with a concept and create their own minigames! Mini-games were also discussed in this article at length. Instead of having to save a game in progress and stop a student in their tracks because the period is over, why not create smaller games that can be completed within an allotted time period? I would definitely like to use a minigame over a full length game because you are able to complete the activity in one session and you can move onto the next quicker. Also, you would be able to concentrate the information better... i.e make it more focused. Instead of having a game that covers the entire civil war, have a game that covers on incident of the war... making the students more familiar with that one piece. I enjoyed this article greatly!

21st century skills are being emphasized in schools across the country, and computer games are just another example of software companies targeting the educational market. Schools should give students access to simulation games, mini-games, and full-length games as well to compliment (not-replace) the current curriculum. We would be reaching a different type of learner, which is always a plus in the classroom.