Games Based Learning!

This week have focused mainly on Games Based Learning and looked at how valuable some of the resources were. We focused on Guitar Hero, Wii, and intendo DS.

Games Based Learning is a new concept to the classroom, it involves using new technology and games to enhance children's learning. There has been a huge boom in the research done on games based learning over the past few years with many people looking at the advantages and disadvantage to using computer games to aid learning schools. As Puttnam and Heppell (2006) suggests "Engaging in computer games and adhering to their rules means that users have a framework in which to explore, probe, hypothesise and test. This active discovery places the learner as co-producer of knowledge, an important aspect in the personalised learning paradigm."

I must say I was skeptical at the beginning of the week. I don't have much experience with games based learning in the classroom and I wasn't sure how as a teacher I would manage and organise the topic.

As I have explained in the earlier post, this week has helped show me how you could manage guitar hero as a learning context. We focused on some of the curricular areas that the topic could cover and the Curriculum for Excellence outcomes that would accompany the lessons.

We also looked at intendo DS and some games that LTS consider good for school. I evaluated three; imagine teacher, word acadamy and maths training.

Imagine teacher- I don't feel this is the best games for schools because the reading involved in the introduction is clearly for first level and above however, the activities involved in the game are simple enough to be used with early level. I feel ealry level children would not be able to navigate themselves around the game without being able to read the information while the games are not challenging enough for the first level children. Also the introduction is very long and involves a lot of reading. the game would however be very useful in developing children's reading skills.

Word Acadamy-After evaluating this game I think that I would recommend it for the classroom. I feel that this game would be best played by the middle and upper stage of the primary school. The words used both in the introduction and activities are clearly second level words that younger children would struggle to understand. This game is very good for testing children's reading and writing skills. it includes a game for testing spelling and a game involving definitions. I also liked that the children were being timed because I felt it added a little excitment to the game and allows the children to compete against themselves to beat their time. Overall I think this is could be very benefical to helping develop children's language skills. The game would cover a number of the Curriculum for Excellence outcomes, in particular these;

I enjoy exploring and playing with the patterns and sounds of language and can use what I learn. LIT0-01a/LIT0-11a/LIT0-20a

I can spell the most commonly-used words, using my knowledge of letter patterns and spelling rules and use resources to help me spell tricky or unfamiliar words. LIT1-21a.

So after focusing on games based learning for the week, I feel that it can be hugely valuable in engaging children, motivating them and developing their learning in all areas of the curriculum. This is clearly the future for schools and I believe that all research points to the advantages out weighting the disadvantages. I feel far more prepare to use this technology to help aid my lessons in the future.

Puttnam, D; Heppell, S (2006) Unlimited learning- computer and video games in the learning landscape.London: Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (page 14)