Eclectic Technology
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Tech tools that assist all students to be independent learners & teachers to become better teachers
Curated by Beth Dichter
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Teachers, Students, Digital Games: What’s the Right Mix? | MindShift

Teachers, Students, Digital Games: What’s the Right Mix? | MindShift | Eclectic Technology | Scoop.it
From blogs.kqed.org - March 24, 2013 7:08 PM

"When St. Louis fifth-grade teacher Jenny Kavanaugh teaches history, she uses her laptop to look at a map, or to give kids a virtual 

our of the historical landmarks they’re studying. “Students can interact with history in very cool ways online,” she said."

But when it’s time for math, she puts the computer away. Even though Kavanaugh thinks technology is a great tool to enhance and deepen certain lessons, for drill and practice of key concepts in class, she finds one-on-one practice to be much more effective than its technological equivalent – digital practice games.

Beth Dichter's insight:

When is the right time to use computer games and when is practice with paper and pencial a better way to learn concepts in teaching? Below are two quotes that appear in this post.

"...Gary Stager, founder of theConstructing Modern Knowledge Summer Institute, recommend that computers be used to add “deep and meaningful experiences” to teachers’ lessons, much of what the 91percent of teachers with access to computers are doing may be just the opposite."

and "43 percent of classroom computing goes to playing educational digital games, while a Joan Ganz Cooney study showed that nearly 50 percent of teachers use digital games in class. But with nearly half of all classroom computer time dedicated to games — many of which are played to reinforce basic skills like phonics, spelling or multiplication tables — some teachers are wondering if games really are innovative techniques used to enhance student learning. Or are they just flashy, colorful ways of dishing out more of the same?"

The post also discusses the best use of iPads as well as SimCityEDU. Two questions are also raised in this post, are games being used to enhance instruction, and do we lose something when students use technology rather than paper and pencil to learn?

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Katie S.'s curator insight, April 9, 2015 4:29 PM

This blog post discusses the use of technology and games in the classroom.  While teacher Jenny Kavanaugh uses games and technology for teaching history, she criticizes the drill like nature of math games and the post sees that developments need to be made in educational games to make them more useful and engaging.  It seems that history is at the forefront though, as online content is able to give a more direct experience of past, place, and events.
benjamin costello's curator insight, May 20, 2015 5:36 PM

Kids like many people learn in a variety of ways so whether you teach the "old fashion" way or through technology I think you must be aware of this. Digital games are just one way to achieve this but I think you have to fully immerse yourself and your students in the technology to be able to fully grab the good intention of it. Trial and error still work.
Gabrielle's curator insight, May 21, 2017 8:53 PM
Helps students engage in historical periods they're studying.
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SimCityEDU: Using Games for Formative Assessment | MindShift

SimCityEDU: Using Games for Formative Assessment | MindShift | Eclectic Technology | Scoop.it
From blogs.kqed.org - March 14, 2013 7:30 PM

"SimCity As game-based learning gains momentum in education circles, teachers increasingly want substantive proof that games are helpful for learning...GlassLab is working with commercial game companies, assessment experts, and those versed in digital classrooms to build SimCityEDU, a downloadable game designed for sixth graders."

Beth Dichter's insight:

When you ask a middle school student what computers are good for they often reply "playing games." SimCity is going to be releasing a SimCity EDU version in the fall of this year. This new version "grew out of research conducted by the MacArthur foundation on how gaming can mirror formative assessments [PDF] – measuring understanding regularly along the learning path, rather than occasionally or at the end of a unit, as is most common. Their research found that games gather data about the player as he or she makes choices within the game, affecting the outcome. In games, players “level-up,” moving on to higher levels when they’ve mastered the necessary skills; similarly teachers scaffold lessons to deepen understanding as a student grasps the easier concepts."

The post also notes that there are those who question if assessment belongs in games. That is a topic that will continued to be debated.

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