JOURNAL 6 "GAMES"

After visiting Classroom 2.0 I visited several tools. The blogging site was a tool that caught my interest and is also one that I would like to research more because it seems to be a very effective tool to introduce to or enhance student keyboarding skills and technological tools. After reading some of the entries there are many mixed attitudes about whether blogging in elementary education is appropriate for kids because of security and privacey issues for the students, as well as, liability and legal issues for the school districts. After more searching, the tool that I chose was on "Gaming". This is the attempt by educators to inform and or ask questions regarding the use of board and computer games to improve their students interest and involvement in class. One teacher logged in requesting information on the use of video games such as Nintendo DS using the Brain Age 2. He was seeking feedback from those who have had successes or failures using this particular unit. An objective of his was to find evidence that games have been proven to increase test scores and increase consistant class attendance. In response, some entries directed teachers to websites, one being "Games in Education", for games that were geared towards specific subjects area. for example, some of the subjects that are more difficult to get student interest like History or Geography. As I concluded my search I came across an interesting comment. It encouraged the idea than when preparing a good lesson the platform should not matter, therefore the technolory chosen is not as important as the instuctional design. Very good advice to stick by!!!