Reflection of Blogging

This was not my first experience with using a blogging tool. This experience was similar to my previous interaction with blogger. The last blog I created was for an education course where we focused on different types of informational texts to use in the classroom. In this blog, we found multiple texts and wrote short descriptions about the text and how we would incorporate it into our classroom. I used blogger for both of these blog posting.

I found this tool very beneficial for the classroom use. It can be used as a parent resource, you can keep a weekly blog of what is happening in your classroom and keep parents up to date. You could give parents information about what information is being covered in the classroom and about how they can be involved in the classroom. If I taught in an older classroom I would have students publish some of their writing in a blog. A blog would provide students with an authentic audience and give them the opportunity to use an online tool to create writing. Students would also be able to view each others work.

Overall, I really enjoyed using blogger and I think it could be beneficial for student learning. The one downfall I have with blogger is that it is very hard to edit. I spend more time trying to edit my blog then I do actually typing out the blog. Otherwise, I think that it is a great way to share information to a wide variety of people.

Dangers of Gaming in the Classroom

Incorporating educational games in the classroom is becoming more and more common. Including games in the classroom makes it easier for teachers to design instruction. They can just select a game and let the students play the game and hope they learn something from playing the game. Teachers have to be careful as to what games they choose to use in the classroom. The games that are used in the classroom need to be beneficial for student learning and not take away from learning.

Game inclusion in the classroom needs to be carefully structured.  If the game allows the teacher to create restrictions on what students are allowed to do, get rid of any distracting components. Let students explore the game and problem solve to figure out the game. If you can create restrictions this will help students stay on task when playing the game. If creating restrictions is not option make sure you discuss with students what they are supposed to be doing with this specific game.

The game should also contain accurate information about the content that is being discussed in class. The game should directly align with some type of standard. If the game does not contain accurate information or is not beneficial to student learning it should not be introduced into the classroom. Let’s say you are discussing important concepts in history and find a game that students could play that relates to the content. The game contains mostly accurate information along with some false information. You could have students write a paper comparing contrasting the history event to the game.

Finally, gaming can take away from important discussions that should be occurring the classroom. Classroom discussions are so important for students to be involved in. They help students develop the skills to effectively communicate with others. A discussion also helps students understand the topics being discussed in the classroom. When students hear other people’s thoughts on the topic it helps them get a better understanding of the topic.

Overall, teachers need to be careful when selecting educational gaming into the classroom. Even though the game sounds like a good idea, it needs to be beneficial for the students. If learning is not occurring while students are interacting with the game it should not be introduced in the classroom.

References 

Technology in the Classroom

Gamification

Benefits of Educational Gaming

When people are discussing the topic of games in the classroom they usually think that learning is not happening in the classroom. In the past, games that were used in the classroom were not educational. Today, technology has made it possible to have online educational gaming with in the classroom. This shift of gaming has become popular in many elementary level classrooms.

One of the benefits of having online gaming in the classroom is all students are involved in learning. The games are having students in engaged in an activity that is based off of a topic being discussed in the classroom. When playing a game with the whole class usually one to five students are involved in the game at one time. This leaves the rest of the class out of game and not involved in learning. Online educational gaming changes that. All students can be playing a game and involved in learning at the same time. The second benefit of online gaming is that students can all be playing a game that is at their level. Each student in the classroom learns at a different pace. When students are playing games as a class you can’t really differentiate the instruction for all students. With online gaming you can pick a level for students based on their understanding of the topic. Educational gaming also allows students to connect with kids from other areas of the world. This gives students the opportunity to learn about different cultures all around the world.

I found it interesting at how much schools are now pushing for teachers to incorporate educational gaming into the classroom. When I was in school on a rare occurrence did we get the opportunity to play a game in the classroom. Now schools are suggesting incorporating educational gaming because students pay more attention to the game then the do when the teacher is lecturing them. What really surprises me is how much online gaming can help student focus. When students are playing a game they have to be focused on what they are doing. Online gaming can help with students staying focused in the classroom.

In my classroom, I plan to have a balance between educational gaming and instructional time. I think that educational gaming can be beneficial as long as it is not overused in the classroom. Students also need instructional time to see the practices in the classroom put into play. They also need the opportunity to have discussions with students in the classroom. 

References:

Benefits of Gaming: What Research Shows. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2015.

Siegert, M. (n.d.). Pros & Cons of Using Interactive Games As Educational Tools. Retrieved September 11, 2015.

The Benefits Of Educational Games For Kids Online - E Learning Game. (2013, May 28). Retrieved September 11, 2015.