week 6

Blog Post:

This blog: http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/Resources/games. htm contains links to several game research papers. Choose two papers and share what you learned. Look for both pro and con gaming factors, interesting ways to use games, predictions, and research being done in this area. Using what you learned from your pro and con research, discuss whether you agree with the general notion that games are beneficial to the learning environment.

From the websites I studied I found out that there is a crisis in Dar fur and that the performance from manager completion was at 99%. From this I found that I am very positive that video games can be a great motivator for learning. People spend so much time immersed in a virtual world. I myself walk around with my Nintendo DS in my purse when I am stuck with a napping child and I can spend a few minutes finding out my brain age.

On the opposite side gaming cannot be the only form of instruction. It is important that students be taught the material in many different forms. There still are families that boycott technology or that have no forms of technology in their homes. This also doesn't account for the the teachers that don't have the background to teach this lesson or are opposed to type of learning.


Blog Post:
Imagine a virtual manipulative or simulation that would increase the knowledge building of a potential student population you might work with in your future. Define the characteristics of the learners that lead you to identify this as an appropriate strategy to use. Define the learning problem, outline what the virtual world will look like, describe the characters or models you will use, what the learner will need to do, and the learning outcomes. Present your idea for this learning tool in your blog.

I work with my preschool children. What i would imagine is a sim that can teach preschoolers how to search the Internet. The site would be an avatar that the child can create and dress. They student would then move their avatar around a search page in a localized controlled world. The world would be password protected and available only to the student and teacher in the class room. The students would learn to move their avatar using mouse controls, acquire rewards such as accessories: clothing, jewelry, food, animals. The students would also be able to play games which can increase in difficulty by the number of times used. The games would be age appropriate from shape sorter, color matcher, alphabet sounds, animals and color page. At some point it would be nice to have a chat feature. This feature will offer preset responses that can teach the child to manipulate a chat and be warned about security.