After exploring the following Emerging Technologies: a) Games, b) Interactive Whiteboard Activities, c) Simulations/Role Playing, & d) Virtual Reality/ Worlds (links found HERE), discuss whether or not you see a use for each of these four technologies. Then, pick two different, specific activities (a game, a simulation, an interactive whiteboard activity, or a Virtual Reality or World) and discuss in detail how it engages students in their own learning.
a) I think online games can be a blessing and a burden. There are many online games that can be educational, however, there are many games, while educational, can be so much fun that children, even adults, play these games for hours nonstop. This causes loss of interest in other things such as homework and chores.
b) Interactive whiteboard activities are a great way to include fun in the classroom. Students always love when games are included in their everyday learning atmosphere.
c) I believe that Role Playing games are good to an extent. Yes they can teach lessons and learn time management skills and be entertaining. However, they can also be addicting and seen as just another game to play on the computer.
d) I do not see a use for the Virtual Reality or Virtual Worlds. In my opinion, it is another way for people to not be social with other individuals. I have watched television shows where people become so addicted to their online virtual world that they lose all contact with everyone that was ever in their life. In my opinion, that is not healthy. I believe having these options for children are not necessary. As a child one needs to socialize and learn how to communicate and interact with other humans in a physical presence not through the computer.
I believe that the two most useful technologies are games and interactive whiteboard activities.
One specific activity is the Interactive United States Map. This map allows students to point to any state and see the name and capital. Concepts like this are a good idea for students because I believe hands on learning is very important. Also, getting to chose what they want to understand better gets them involved in the learning process.
Another specific activity is the Bee Game. This game has young children learn their alphabet by clicking on the letters in alphabetical order and the bee picks up the letters and takes them to his hive. If the students do not hit the correct letter the bee will not pick it up.
Danielle great blog! I really lked how you mention the fact about Virtual World not be useful, and I agree! I know what show your talking about, on True Life, they had an episode where it was all dedicated to people who shy and stuck behind their comptuers. And the two using technolgoies where the same ones that you had chosen. I do think so as well that if kids lose control over why they are playing the games in the first place and the these "educational" games can become barbaric. But awesome blog post!!
ReplyDeleteJaimee
Danielle, I have to agree, my favorite segments of technology are the games and white board activities. They hold the students attention and they have fun while learning. The virtual world I am a little scared of only because I am not up on the techology of the virtual world. But I have a strong feeling it is part of the educational world ahead of us.
ReplyDeleteGrace
Like you, I have mixed feelings about games. In moderation and for the right purpose they do have a role in the education, but sometimes games are not used in a way that they compliment the learning -- not always, but sometimes.
ReplyDelete