Week 7: Using Second Life in the classroom

 

Second Life allows the user to visit places around the world that they probably could not necessarily be able to visit otherwise. Users are able to create avatars to navigate this virtual world that has been created to imitate many aspects of the real world.

Second life is a great multimodal world, which gives many options and possibilities. ELA teachers can use Second Life in so many different ways; all one need is to be creative. A teacher can use it to show students a topic of a non-fiction book on history. They could also have students interact online and establish conversations with each other while online to facilitate learning in a collaborate style. This is a fantastic multimodal way to get students engaged and working. My only concern would be privacy issues concerning students and their possible engagement with other individuals in while on this platform. Parents would probably be concerned about such thing, a well, especially with my 6^th graders. I am unsure weather the game actually offers some type of protection or screening for younger players. Perhaps something like this would actually make easy such worry. Overall nevertheless, this is something I would kike to give a try to. In my personal experience, I would have to take the time to see how it can be incorporated into Social Studies classes in the sixth grade.

Week 7: Book Builder Project

Written and illustrated by my son.

Week 6: Edmodo, a SNS for education

Here is my"profile" in Edmodo, a social networking site that is fitted for education.

Edmodo is a fantastic platform that teachers can use to interact with students. Edmodo takes the best form Social networking sites and turns it into an educational-social network. You can post assignments, have students interact with each other and even have students take assessments though the site. Most important of all is that Edmodo is an ad free site, which uses the tools of Social Networking. An ELA teacher is able to reward students with badges that you choose, and which they can display to peers. An ELA teacher can use this site to enhance the use of technology to engage students. With Edmodo, you can assign assignments and have them that can be uploaded and downloaded (by your students). Edmodo also allows students to hand in assignments or work through the site; therefore, diminishing the number of printed work. This is a wonderful way to encourage students to use the Internet and learn how to use basic email/massage and forum functions. You can even purchase apps, which can be used through site. These include, educational apps, studying apps, and even games that pertain to ELA. Edmodo allows you to create polls and gives you the opportunity to see data in a clearly labeled way. An ELA teacher can no doubt use these tools to improve and to engage students with current material that is being covered in class. Another interesting and fun part of Edmodo is the availability of badges which you can award to students for work and effort.

Week 5: Surviving the Stone Age Game

You can click here to view the PDF version of the game description (dropbox)

You can click here to view the PDF version of the game description (Google Drive)

Philosophy of Using Games in the Classroom

Engaging student in the process of learning is a life long task that every educator must devote to in order to be successful. Teachers have used methods readily available to them in order to offer education and to engage students. Of course, methods have changed dramatically, and in a world of ever-changing technology the teacher is obligated to master these tools and use them to both make his job more effective, and to assure that students are also working with these tools. More than ever, with the availability of electronic devices to the general public, it is has become important and imperative that students engage in what their future will depend on, but also to use the tools that will engage them.

            While the area of gaming is a concept that may not necessarily be taught about as as an educational one, many skills can be practiced and learned. While it is true that most of our current students enjoy online games in one way or another, it is also true that the educator can tap into that as a resource and implement gaming into his/her curriculum. Seeing the potential that this could create, I have come to the conclusion that gaming should be an important part of my teaching, and will implement it in order to meet the needs of our current generation. The goals is to engage students in new literacies that will that will allow them to work with tools that are common and normal to them, and which at the same time encourages many problem solving strategies. Aside from this, students can be enriched by assignments that well planed and will get them to practice many of the skills that the common core curriculum ask from our students. Therefore, incorporating gaming into the curriculum is an essential part of a modern teacher, and must be another tool that helps the teacher engage students, while allowing students to sharpen their skills by doing something that pertains to their interest.

Week 5: Gamestar Mechanic

Exploring the Game Star Mechanic website was fun and interesting. I spent about 20 minutes creating my won game. I realized that I had to practice many of my reasoning skills, I had to brainstorm ideas and I ended up retouching and editing. I pretty much went through the same process as when creating an essay. That was just in creating mode. And without a plan!! I also realized that there are many possibilities in creating a curriculum and a process that would enhance the whole experience for students. Essentially, one could assign particular assignments where students learn the process of creating a game, practice many problem-solving skills and learn a particular subject that can be introduced in the game. What is great about playing here also, is that you have to do a lot of reading to find out how the story unfolds… The games are fun, interactive, and definitely include literacy, which what we want our students to be exposed to after all.