Week 9, Topic 7 – Gaming in the Classroom

As a teacher in this new digital world, it is extremely important that we include all types of technologies that appeal to and are utilised by this generation. The conflict between gaming and it’s advantages and disadvantages for children has continued through the decades and is now becoming of increasing concern for  parents and teachers in the amount of time spent by students  playing online games, computer games, PS4 and Xbox.

However, does the gaming world really have such a negative influence upon our students? In my opinion it doesn’t.

Familiar and popular games can be incorporated into the curriculum as an engaging and ‘eye opening’ concept that enables students to begin critical thinking, and explores ideas that continue to stimulate students thinking inside and outside their classroom as they engage with the game on a daily basis.

The online game World of Warcraft (WoW) has been analysed by academics for many years, to consider its use as an educational tool to present narrative structures and quest motives. Katrina Schwartz (2013) in her online article “World of Warcraft finds it’s way into the classroom” asserts that students are benefiting from alternate resources to engage learners outside that seen in a traditional classroom.

I have included a link below to the  article by Schwartz that discusses further appreciation of gaming in education.

– http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/03/world-of-warcraft-finds-its-way-into-class/

Here is my own SPLODER game I managed to create!

– http://www.sploder.com/publish.php?PHPSESSID=6af82519f5a8d56c6777031dfdd7355e&s=d0043xvj#kickdown

Reference: 

• Schwartz, K. (2013, 5 March). World of Warcraft finds its way into the classroom. Mind/Shift. Retrieved from: http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/03/world-of-warcraft-finds-its-way-into-class/

 

Scratch Video Animation – Week 6

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/20484856/

This is the scratch clip I have created.

The experience was extremely easy and entertaining! I would certainly use this as an assignment tool for students if they were able to access to the necessary resources.

It would be essential  that the process was fully explained to students before allowing them to go ahead themselves. With a clean and structured  outline for students to create a script and animation this is an excellent use of technology to engage learners. Some students may also uncover a passion for these types of mediums. It is extremely important to provide our students with diverse opportunities to assist them discover  more about their talents within the classroom.

This YouTube video link by Bob AmpliVox is an excellent summary of how exciting programs like this are for students. They present an  exciting opportunity of exploration for the students. Shelly, Gunter and Gunter (2012) assert that we as educators of the new generation of online based learning, as daunting as it can be incorporating so many new web resources; it is crucial that we familiarize ourselves with the technology before handing it over to our students (pp.299).  As with any subject, you must become the expert in order to teach it simply.

References:

• Bob AmpliVox. (2011, October 31). Top 10 Reasons to Use Technology in Education: Ipad, Tablet…[Video File]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzi2RIt8_nk

 

•  Shelly, G., Gunter, G., Gunter, R. (2012). Teachers Discovering Computers Intergrating Technology in a Connected World. (7th ed.). Boston, USA: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

Hypertext Pros and Cons – Week 5

What is a Hypertext?

A Hypertext is a text that has a linked URL reference, providing further information. It can be a hyperlink to not only other websites but also to images and videos on another webpage. The hypertext is accessed through clicking on the link and will immediately open the page providing further detail. Blogs, social media, academic websites are strongly associated with the works of hypertext’s.

Advantages:

•   Hypertext’s enable ready and easily accessible information with little browsing needed.
• New information beyond the person’s expertise can be linked such as reference to statistics or professional photos of an event.
• It allows freedom of speech by enabling anyone to have access and opinion on an already discussed topic within the web.

Disadvantages:

• Hypertext’s can present misleading information. For example if an image is linked to a text containing an opinion on a politically controversial event, the selective hyperlink could have no actual relevance or a negative bias.  Uneducated or personal viewpoints can create issues if taken out of context or perceived as factual.
• Frequently, no credibility for the original author can be seen. Only a segment from previous works, with no background information is immediately linked. The credibility can only be seen if an individual browses further than the hypertext.
• Information may be unreliable.