Comments for Computer Technology in the Classroom (S08)

Comment on Grants Overview by Grant Search - Mike Freemen

Grant Search - Mike Freemen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:38:31 +0000

If you have more questions about grants, please send them to Info@GrantSearchEngine.com or Info@GrantSearchLink.com, we can assist to help you better understand free government grants

Comment on II. Exploring Internet Safety by Aunt Lee

Aunt Lee — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:01:35 +0000

For a fun way to teach internet and social networking safety, here’s a unit that includes an instructional video and a quiz. It’s aimed at middle school and up.

http://www.auntlee.com/safety/

The video is a selection of silly clips supposedly posted to the MySpace pages of the famous auntlee.com puppy and some of her friends. The clips demonstrate mistakes kids can make – the clips and the quiz serve as a jumpstart to further discussions.

Kids can take the interactive Flash version online, or you can download a .pdf document and print it as a handout. The 10 question quiz covers the topics of cyber-bullying, privacy, safety, dangers of spyware and malware, etc.

The quiz doesn’t really focus on stranger-danger type concerns but rather gently and humorously reminds the reader that it’s possible to hurt people’s feelings, to mislead people who don’t realize you’re joking, to remember that online postings can be seen by anybody and that postings are often impossible to remove once posted.

Comment on Negative Aspects by veganova

veganova — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:05:39 +0000

gaming does have negative qualities that make them a hard sell for teachers. Children can be distracted from other higher quality learning endeavors by gaming. Some games isolate children, some are community based though take people away from real life.

Comment on Conclusion by Kaitlyn Tainter

Kaitlyn Tainter — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:55:10 +0000

I don’t think I will incorporate gaming into my classroom in the future. I agree with Stacia that I might do this if I were teaching younger students, but I don’t think games really have a place in my adolescent classroom. Again, I could be wrong and I MAY use some type of trivia game to review for an exam or review important material that was covered in class, but I don’t really see my self incorporating it otherwise.

Comment on Negative Aspects by Kaitlyn Tainter

Kaitlyn Tainter — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:52:43 +0000

This article outlined many of the negative aspects of gaming in the classroom. The article is interesting and thought provoking. It is important that teachers look into the games they use in their classroom before they use them and analyze the negative and positive effects they will have on students.

http://www.slideshare.net/silversprite/use-of-computer-and-video-games-in-the-classroom/

Comment on Prensky’s 7 Games by Kaitlyn Tainter

Kaitlyn Tainter — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:49:17 +0000

I think this approach to gaming is interesting to discover. I don’t really see the true and life changing benefits that these games have in the classroom. I am aware that their are some students that will respond more to gaming than others. I think it is important to keep in mind that we address all the aspects of gaming before incorporating it into the classroom. When you are a teacher you get to know your students and become familiar with their wants and needs. This is important.

Comment on Engaging Games by Kaitlyn Tainter

Kaitlyn Tainter — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:45:06 +0000

I played “Stay Aflot.” It was a fun and interesting game that would serve a greater purpose in a younger age leveled classroom. This game directly relates to Prensky’s rules because students learn by doing and comprehend more when they are particpating in games like this. Through this game a topic can be defined and thats important for students to learn subjects about a certain topic.

Comment on Introduction to Gaming by Kaitlyn Tainter

Kaitlyn Tainter — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:36:17 +0000

I like a few other people have said am not really a gamer. I do however love any type of trivia game show or the trivia game . I think that games such as Jeopardy and my favorite, Who Wants to be a Millionaire are fantastic games to incorporate into the classroom. I think I would use these games for review sessions and on other days when I feel the information the students are learning needs to quizzed. I think it is a fun and exciting way to learn.

Comment on Mini vs Complex by Janet B

Janet B — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:39:36 +0000

As Garrett mentioned, I know many people who play complex game and I would never have the time, nor patience to sit in front of a screen that long in order to complete a video game.Prensky’s catergorizes the difference in long and short games in perfectly clear-cut description. I am more of a mini-game kind of girl. While I am online , I will take the occasional few minutes in order to occupy my time with some simple game like Snood or solitaire. This website here has great amount of different mini-games which I like to resort to occasionally. Click-it and see if you like it too!

http://www.oyunlar1.com/minigames.asp

Comment on Prensky’s 7 Games by Janet B

Janet B — Mon, 12 May 2008 03:30:58 +0000

I enjoyed this alternative approach to the positive aspects of gaming. The idea that video game skills can buils skills for success is similarly related to Pink’s idea of building relationships and “symphony”. In his novel, A Whole New Mind, he explains the importance of taking subjects that seen unrelated and finding ways for them to relate to one another. Prenksy’s point about gaming are very innovative, espcially the one that mentions being proactive. It is true that any task will not get completed unless you strive to finish it, and beginning with the “end in mind”, as Jessica mentioned, is a great way of having a goal to reach.