I use games (technological and others) in my classroom frequently to review concepts that have been taught in the classroom. I have used Jeopardy and Millionaire, and have received a positive response from all of my students. I have created several games that are not technological to reinforce scientific and mathematical concepts. The kids are truly motivated when we play the games.
I have not had any experience with designing a technological game from scratch. Consequently, I haven't exposed my students to game designing. I think a game is a great way for students to learn concepts and I would love to design homemade PowerPoint games for my students to play. I also think it would be great if students designed their own games as it helps them construct their own learning and it allows them to play an active role in their learning process. However, I do not have time to teach my students how to create a PowerPoint game. There is so much of the curriculum that I have to get through the school year in math and science that I don't have time to teach them computer skills. There is so much pressure with the MEAPs and the school grade that I cannot afford to lose days not teaching math and science. Again, I love this idea, but I don't think it's practical for me because of lack of time. I would love it if our school's computer/technology teacher could present game design to the students and show them how to create a PowerPoint. I could then have them create a game based on math or science concepts because they would know the basics of how to create a game using PowerPoint. That's the only way that I think I can save time to have the students create games in science and math.
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5 comments:
Sohnia,
Because of our very different experiences on the last topic, I was anxious to read your reflection on the games. I really empathize with your views on the MEAPs and school grades, our core curriculum teachers are having difficulties with them as well. With the changing glickies and huskies, it's really rough to find time to fit fun technology into the learning process.
Because I teach computers, everything from 7th grade keyboarding to high school intro to programming, I try to keep in contact with the core curriculum to enhance what they are doing. Is there a computer teacher that would be interested in taking your core curriculum and enhancing it within their lessons. I do this all the time.
Diane,
I would love to have a computer teacher like you! Unfortunately, our computer teacher is not as advanced in technology as you are. I think I know more than her. She just teaches them basic computer skills. I think that its great that you integrate the core curriculum in your lessons. Do you have standards to follow by...is it the ISTE-nets? Or does every school district have a different curriculum for computers?
Sohnia,
Thanks so much for the compliment. When I started at my school, I was given a blank slate on which to build my own curriculum. I did follow the standards that the National Business Education Association had published.
Now, I not only follow the ISTE-NETS, but the state has new technology standards which just started last year. They resemble the national ones that I was following. (http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-28753_33232_37328---,00.html).
I try to combine my standards with enhancing the core curriculum. I've done some collaboration with the junior high science, math, and the English teachers. It seems that none of the high school teachers are interested in collaborating though. I can't seem to figure out why.
I should have added that there need not be anything too technical to collaborate on projects. I have the 7th grade students make PowerPoint presentations on what they learned in the Science ecology camp week. In the process, they not only get to "cement" their knowledge of science, but they learn voice overs, activations and links in PowerPoint as well. I also teach them that using their own pictures for presentations makes sure that they do not infringe on any copyrights. It's a win-win situation.
I also work with the math teacher when I work in Excel and have them learn how to do absolute values, show fractions in pie charts, etc. and use some of the problems right out of their math book.
For the English class, I have the students blog, and I ask them to write about what the teacher tells me they are learning about in English class, what they are reading.
Sohnia, as a fellow math teacher I "feel your pain" when it comes to meeting all the curriculum requirements we have from the state and sometimes think it is taking the creativity out of our teaching. Collaboration with the computer teachers might be a good way to find some "extra" time. I need to try it myself! Kristin
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