Game week

This week was game week, when we arrived in the room there were a number of different game consoles such as the WII, computers, ipads etc. We were told to walk around the room and try out each game, we then had to rate it on how it could be used for education and learning. Some of the games such as the computer and ipad could be used for learning games however I don't see how the Wii AND xbox could be used.It was however interesting to see the differences between each console and the things they had to offer.

The computer is obviously the most simple way of bringing gaming into the classroom as there are hundred of educational games that can be downloaded or played online, however the Doctor Who game that we were provided with was not educational and was not only difficult to play but also very boring, there was to much dialog and it became very tedious.

 

The Wii and Xbox both provided games which contained sensors so your body controlled the game, I can see how children would find this entertaining however for educational purposes I do not see it as useful, firstly it can only be used by a maximum of two people at a time and in a classroom over twenty this could be difficult also the games were not educational at all but more for sport.

Overall I think that gaming consoles are difficult to bring into the classroom as they don't contain games that are relevant to education, however as exercise and a way of playing games they are a brilliant idea.

 

Creating a game

Today we were given the task of creating a game using '2Do it yourself' this is a simple program to make simple quick and easy games. It is perfect for children to use as it provides simple instructions using videos to follow on how to create a game. I decided to create a maze game based around the story of little red riding hood. I really enjoyed doing this activity and being able to be creative and learn how to us the software. After an hour my game was complete and I was really proud of it. This is a great way of recapping subjects and stories in the classroom as the children can create their own games but at the same time learn. Unfortunately after countless attempts I was still unable to embed the game onto my blog but the link below will take you straight to the game.

https://11db6fb6-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/smueducationproject/welcome/Red%20riding%20hood.swf?attachauth=ANoY7coos1kzVpEX7_iUJNKqhHU4KficJSdb-wEjCurzB4f4TTJKssalhUqh9lAzC49kMLgullX-WvCAoHJOEid07S8TN0-cLFRHALOvq8XGydz3mh6raCs0ya6VRXXAwdCu2pZrXV8l1ot7uPHLoa_7NKBy_wghca7va3p1ThB2JNlhpQMxG-2eKSL3Gyrw-qEhSkbpcw7sxCZio2ZBO_Q8X2zkijTcR-sGqv5sZofMHtTXoOX2lZg%3D&attredirects=0

Debate

This week we conducted a debate around the topic of gaming in the classroom, and whether gaming should or shouldn't be allowed in the classroom to teach the children. My group was for gaming and we came up with a number of relevant points to present to the opposing team.

• Provides different ways of learning
• Makes learning interactive and fun
• Helps children who find reading and writing difficult
• Powerful learning tool

At first we found it very difficult to get our point across as we were not as organsied as we would have liked, however after the opposing teams turn we were able to argue back and had some valid points. At the end of the debate the opposing team won, however I believe that if we had been more organised at the beginning we probably would have. The opposing team did have a lot of valid points however and they did produce a good argument. 

Educational Game evaluation

Today I played an education game based around sex education called 'privates'. This game was created by channel 4 to encourage children to learn through gaming. My first reaction to the game was a bit of a shock, instead of gradually working your way into a game on sex education you are thrown in! To some teenagers this may cause them to feel uncomfortable. However the game does provide a good knowledge of infections and diseases that can be obtained and is a good way of showing it. The game itself is mostly aimed at boys as it is a shooting action game, however girls may also enjoy it. To me this game is mostly aimed at teenagers ranging from 14 and on. I think anyone below that is to young. Overall it has a good concept, but I do believe that they should maybe reduce how graphic it is and slowly work you into it as it can be a bit shocking at times.

Moral dilemmas

Today we created a power point presentation, based on a scenario and moral dilemmas, the aim was to select what you would do and go along the pathway by clicking on the hyperlinks to reach a final conclusion. We based our scenario on your friend not being able to pay rent and the reader would have to pick which one you would choose and see the consequences.

 This links to gaming as with most games today you have to choose an option to lead you down a different pathway and your decisions affect the game. By providing you with different options this makes the game more realistic and more entertaining

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What is gaming?

Gaming can be used for a number of reasons such as education, socialising or just for fun. It makes situations that could be considered boring more interesting and hands on. Technology has greatly advanced within such a short space of time with it now being used everyday, making out lives simpler. Gaming is usually considered as an escape from reality, it puts you in a situation where you are in control. 

Within education gaming is used to encourage children to learn through having fun, with the introduction of the foundation phase the school classroom is now mostly made up of interaction and play. The most popular development in the classroom at the moment is the use of white boards, where the children can play games relating to their subjects at the time.

 

Gaming is also used for socialising, this can be seen in online programs such as 'world of war craft' and 'minecraft' where you create a character and can use your imagination to carry out activities, make friends and basically escape from reality. It allows you to become the character and create online friends and become a different person.

Gaming is also used for fun, today most phones and laptops now come with apps and games that can be played on the go, even though you are not really gaining much from them you enjoy playing them as they give you something to do. It is also fun and exciting, and with some games you have to move on to the next level encouraging your competitiveness.

  However one issue with gaming is that they can result in personality changes and some people become influenced by gaming. This is usually caused by violent games and in some instances can lead to disastrous events. It is important that people remember that it is a game and when finished that they need to leave the gaming world and come back to reality.

Digital learning enviroments

'Over the last decade there have been vast changes in the way we live, learn and work, and with the advancement of technology and new learning tools, these things will continue to evolve. Today’s learners need new skills to survive and thrive in the future. Education should combine practical, intellectual, and social skills as never before.'

 I was asked to consider the above quote, giving my feelings upon it and reflecting upon the effects it would have upon the learning environment and how technology would impact teaching and learning.

 In my opinion one of the main advances in the educational system over the past few years is the use of technology within the classroom, today most classrooms are fitted with a whiteboard and computers with some even providing their pupils with ipads. Technology is now a major part of teaching, with most teachers now using it as a normal way of teaching. It is now necessary for children to be taught basic ICT skills, with most employers looking for people who can use a computer.

However these advances in technology have caused the learning environment to change with most lessons being taught on white boards and computers, using online games. It is also encouraged for children to learn to type from a young age, however this can impact on handwriting and for those children who cannot afford technology at home they may struggle outside of school. It is also now necessary for the teachers to have an understanding of technology, and for those who have been teaching before these advances they may struggle to deal with incorporating both technology and play into their lesson planning. These advances in technology may also mean that the children may become less creative as they will be learning more through the use of electronics rather than through art and play. The children may also become lazy, using search engines as a way of finding out information rather than using books and going out into the field to gather information.

 In my opinion it is important to incorporate all aspects of learning, agreeing with the above quote that a combination of practical, intellectual and social skills are needed. Today using technology is a basic part of everyday life, however I do not believe that it should be relied on solely as a method of teaching as it is also important to encourage learning in different aspects, such as arts and crafts, group work and basic written work.

Who am I?

My name is Holly Stevenson and I am currently studying educational studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. I currently live in Swansea but hope to move away. This blog is for one of my modules called Education Futures: Learning Environments. As an already keen blogger I already know my way around blogger and can hopefully use this to my advantage. At the moment I am still unsure as to what I want to do after I finish university.