Video games are often thought of as a waste of time, nonconstructive and not a form of exercise. Since technology is becoming something that is taking over and is seen everywhere, it only makes sense that video games are used as an educational tool. Not all video games are educational, for example the ones with killing and shooting like Grand Theft Auto, but then there are some that may help develop life long skills, like SIMS. Bringing video game technology will be a benefit to the students, especially the ones who can't leave their house without their hand held system and some extra video games.
One day not too long ago I was in the nail salon and a lady came in with her son who was about 9 years old and her new born baby. I never saw her sons eyes because he was looking down at his game the whole entire time. He was able to multitask while playing also. While his mom was getting her nails done, she told him to give the baby her bottle. He took one hand, reached into the bag, and put the bottle in the baby's mouth; all while never stopping to look at anything but his game. Everybody was looking and laughing and the mother said that's what he does all day. Now wouldn't it be great if he was playing something that would enhance his education? I think so.
I went on one of the websites that is listed in the book www.evgschool.org/Language.html. There are links to games that can be played to enhance vocabulary skills, there are dictionaries, crossword puzzles and you can click on a specific grade from kindergarten to 6th grade to get games. I am going to be an English/Language Arts teacher so I enjoyed this website. The pictures make sounds and are animated, things that will make children want more. In my class, I will integrate these computer games by assigning them to the students who need help. The fact that there's nobody helping them to complain or laugh when they get something wrong, which may happen if a student was helping, will encourage them to keep trying. Since most children play video games at home on the computer anyway this won't necessarily be a new thing to them.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Chapter 9- Technology Intergration
This chapter broke down every subject and ways to integrate technology in the classroom while teaching these subjects. Math, science, social studies, and language arts all all important subjects and one may wonder how they can incorporate technology into their lesson plans. Even though there are many websites and programs that can be used for all subjects, math teachers have great ways to use computers in their classrooms because computers are great with numbers and giving feedback. They're never wrong so using computers for statistics, tallying scores, percentages, and anything else will have a more accurate outcome than adding numbers using your head or a calculator. What I like about using technology is the students won't even realize the different ways they are using technology. Everything will be fun for them, especially younger children.
While I was reading this chapter I noticed that spreadsheets are the most used type of technology for every subject. It is important that students learn how to use a spreadsheet because that is how numbers are figured out for everything, from how much money a bank made to the population of a country. My concentration is english so I wanted an idea on how to use technology while teaching the subject. I love the lesson plan "Write a Story." When I was in elementary school I loved writing stories. I had to write mine by hand but I would've loved it even more if I could've illustrated my stories and made them come to life. Having all of the students have input on the story not only uses technology but teaches them at an early age how to work as a team. This will also enhance their spelling skills without them actually sitting in a boring spelling class because microsoft word, if used, lets the user know when a word is misspelled. In my classroom I will have my students write a story together then write one on their own. That is great assessment because I will be able to tell who learned what from working in a group. Another way I would have my students use the computer is make them look up different kinds of stories and read them online. They will learn how to do research and learn that if they can't find a hardcover copy of a book they may be able to read it online. On days when they are home and can't go to the library because of a snowstorm or something they can find a book on the computer.
A teacher may have a tough time trying to figure out how to incorporate technology in their special education classroom because they may think using computers will be too hard for their students but in fact it's the total opposite. When dealing with children who have special needs, patience is the number one rule. I know how it is to lose patience with someone who may not be learning as fast as you want them to. When you lose patience with them they get discouraged and their view on learning changes negatively. The lovely ting about computers is they don't talk back. They can't tell the student they won't help them anymore, they can't scream, and no matter how many times they go back to the same program it will be right there waiting for them when they're ready. Those things are exactly what special education students need. Playing educational games like the one described in the book about drawing a web does multiple things for students. It teaches them to have patience with themselves, encourages them to keep going once they see they can do it, makes them want to show their friends what they did which is collaboration, especially if they can compete against each other for the highest score, all while teaching them how to use computers.
To me every lesson plan is multidisciplinary because there is always more than one thing being learned/taught. For instance, while doing a math lesson students use spreadsheets, have to do research for their information which may require them to use the world wide web, they may be collaborating with classmates which teaches them team work, and if they have to write a report they have to use microsoft word, which teaches them how to use a keyboard and to spell. Students and teachers benefit because the teachers get to teach more than one thing at a time while the students get to learn.
While I was reading this chapter I noticed that spreadsheets are the most used type of technology for every subject. It is important that students learn how to use a spreadsheet because that is how numbers are figured out for everything, from how much money a bank made to the population of a country. My concentration is english so I wanted an idea on how to use technology while teaching the subject. I love the lesson plan "Write a Story." When I was in elementary school I loved writing stories. I had to write mine by hand but I would've loved it even more if I could've illustrated my stories and made them come to life. Having all of the students have input on the story not only uses technology but teaches them at an early age how to work as a team. This will also enhance their spelling skills without them actually sitting in a boring spelling class because microsoft word, if used, lets the user know when a word is misspelled. In my classroom I will have my students write a story together then write one on their own. That is great assessment because I will be able to tell who learned what from working in a group. Another way I would have my students use the computer is make them look up different kinds of stories and read them online. They will learn how to do research and learn that if they can't find a hardcover copy of a book they may be able to read it online. On days when they are home and can't go to the library because of a snowstorm or something they can find a book on the computer.
A teacher may have a tough time trying to figure out how to incorporate technology in their special education classroom because they may think using computers will be too hard for their students but in fact it's the total opposite. When dealing with children who have special needs, patience is the number one rule. I know how it is to lose patience with someone who may not be learning as fast as you want them to. When you lose patience with them they get discouraged and their view on learning changes negatively. The lovely ting about computers is they don't talk back. They can't tell the student they won't help them anymore, they can't scream, and no matter how many times they go back to the same program it will be right there waiting for them when they're ready. Those things are exactly what special education students need. Playing educational games like the one described in the book about drawing a web does multiple things for students. It teaches them to have patience with themselves, encourages them to keep going once they see they can do it, makes them want to show their friends what they did which is collaboration, especially if they can compete against each other for the highest score, all while teaching them how to use computers.
To me every lesson plan is multidisciplinary because there is always more than one thing being learned/taught. For instance, while doing a math lesson students use spreadsheets, have to do research for their information which may require them to use the world wide web, they may be collaborating with classmates which teaches them team work, and if they have to write a report they have to use microsoft word, which teaches them how to use a keyboard and to spell. Students and teachers benefit because the teachers get to teach more than one thing at a time while the students get to learn.
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