Educational Games
I found myself spending too much time looking for games that
could address Alaska State Standards; searching is endless in iTunes apps,
trying different Google searches, and asking colleagues. I have come to a conclusion that it is
very difficult to search for quality educational apps or online games that do
not cost a yearly membership.
After this experience, I will be happy to hear about what others may
have found to be beneficial.
The three games that I believe could address some standards
include: an online soduko puzzle
game, a madlibs site, and an iPhone app called Math Bingo, which cost a small
fee of $0.99 to download to my phone.
The soduko game challenges your logical thinking skills. Each puzzle consists of a nine-by-nine
grid with nine inner squares. In order to solve a puzzle, each of the inner
squares must have one of the nine numbers between one and nine. In addition, each row and each column
must contain the number once. The
online version has error check to see how the player is doing, pause, print and
clear features. There are four
different levels, easy, medium, hard, and evil. The online version saves your
students from constant erasing once they find an error. Soduko challenges your students to
think logically. Logical problem
solving is a process of searching through the known data and/or adding
information to existing data, thus enlarging the file on that particular
subject. The emphasis in logical thinking is following a path that builds from
a known position to another in carefully structured steps, making sure that
each step rests firmly on previous knowledge. I would categorize that the Alaska State Standards that are
addressed would be found in the Problem Solving strand and depend on the level
of the Soduko puzzle.
Madlibs are fun word games that create a new and unique
story by changing selected words in the story. Everyone probably remembers playing this game using the book
version and laughing while at the same time not realizing they are learning. Madlibs uses fun word games to teach
grammar, sentence structure, parts of speech and vocabulary. The concept is genius. The game asks for a part of speech: a
verb, a noun, plural nouns, an adjective, an adverb, and some other physical
characteristics. Descriptions and
examples can be found by placing the mouse over the word in case anyone needs
to be reminded or has forgotten.
After the blanks are filled in a story is created that has one silly
sentence after another. Madlibs
make learning fun. Students
realize that they can make their stories more colorful and interesting by using
descriptors and can improve their writing. The standard that would be addressed is the writing and
editing using conventions strand that is labeled by grade level then the
numbers 3.3.5, again depending upon difficulty of the puzzle.
The game from the iTunes App Store that I downloaded and
played is Math Bingo. Fundamental
math concepts can be a struggle for young kids and leads to a lifetime with
problems learning and understanding math.
With games, kids can learn basic addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division while having fun.
Constant practice can take the frustration out of memorizing facts with
online learning tools.
Math bingo may be able to help with math computation and fluency.
The object of Math Bingo is to get a pattern of five Bingo Bugs in a row by
correctly answering math problems. Math problems are presented at the top of
the game screen. Feedback is presented at the bottom of the game screen.
Correct solutions to problems answered incorrectly will be displayed. State standards that are addressed are
from the Estimation and Computation strands, depending on the levels, easy,
medium, or hard.
I find that when students play learning games on the
computer that they are generally more engaged than with pen and paper
drills. Mastery of skills comes
naturally with more and more practice.
I feel that students that play these games demonstrate their learning
when they are more confident in their own skills and/or beat their classmates. When searching for games, I asked for
help from my district’s math expert and a colleague in the English department. I thought that it would be good to use
these games in the classroom if students complete assigned work or demonstrate
a struggle with basic skills.
Students love time on the computer and may be motivated to get assigned
work done to get more computer time.
Diigo link
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