Gaming

http://www.fun4thebrain.com/English/magice.html

     I chose a game that I use very often in my classroom. I teach a lot of phonics and use Orton Gillinghams multisensory approach to reading. I use the SMART Board to incorporate gaming in many of my lessons. I find that incorporating a game at the beginning of instruction as an anticipatory works really well with my students. It helps to engage the students and motivate them. I often chose a game that reviews the prerequisites to the lesson. This provides me with the opportunity to assess their retention of the prior skills taught. The students playing the games lets me see if reteaching is necessary. If it is I can do that before going into the content of the lesson. In addition, I use games as guided practice. This helps me to see how comfortable students are with the content before going into independent practice. Teaching students with disabilities often presents many obstacles related to creating an environment that motivates and engages them. Gaming has made a large difference in my instruction, because it gives students who struggle a fun perspective towards learning. I use a variety of websites for educational games. I chose to do this assignment on a game from Fun4thebrain.com. The game I chose is on teaching the phonics skill of silent e. The game also incorporates previous skills taught. I have used this game many times before.

     Visual, audio, and text are included throughout the game in a variety of ways. The students are required to read words and choose the correct spelling of the word that the character is saying out loud. At the start of the game, the players have the opportunity to read directions, view an introduction, and look at the map that they will go through to accomplish their goal. The students need to read and comprehend the rules of the game. The game also has short reading passages that are presented at the completion of each level of the game. There is a storyline to keep players engaged (the frog prince). The students are notified through text if they have chosen an incorrect word and do not pass on to the next level. The listening aspect is removed from the game and them students are to rely solely on text to complete the last level.

     The overall visual aspects of this game are appealing for students. The graphic layout of the game is attractive and engaging. A magic wand is used to choose the correct word. I believe that the visual lay out of the game is what initially catches elementary level student’s eye. I am unsure how this game would develop spatial skills. Perhaps how the students search for the correct word can develop basic visual spatial skills. There are audio elements incorporated in this game, as well. The voice over is reading the text to the students and the word choices. Students are required to use both listening and reading compression skills in this game. The goal of this game is to master the skills of silent e through a drill and practice approach and to turn the frog back into a prince. This game has a scenario designembedded in curriculum-related content and is designed to grasp player’s attention. The game requires students to be familiar with the content in order to improve their skills.

     I am unsure if I chose the correct type of game for this assignment. I am not a gamer and am very unfamiliar with gaming techniques. I took this approach to the assignment because I really enjoy using these types of educational games in the classroom. In reading the article, I can also see how many games that are not educational can improve cognitive and technological skills.