Thursday, November 20, 2014

Video Games in the Classroom

While I believe that there is a time and place for everything, unfortunately I do not believe that there is a place in my classroom for video games.  Teaching English is so different than any other subject.  While it seems like all we do is read, there are a lot of other things that go on inside a Language Arts classroom.  I'm all about using technology in my classroom.  I love that the kids like to read on their phones/ tablets/ laptops.  But for me, that's where it ends.  I have not found any "games" that will help grow my students academically.
However, when talking to my science teacher friends, I have learned that there are many ipad apps that they can use to teach physics and the such.  I love that they kids would be able to use those games to understand things like velocity.  I think in today's world we do need to meet the kids where they are.  That's why I use a class blog for their writing.  I also like to have them create things like an Instagram for Edgar Allen Poe (or who ever we are reading about at the time).  

3 comments:

  1. I teach English, too! I like your idea of creating instagrams for authors! I agree andndo not think there is a good, productive way to actually bring video games in the classroom. However, you could bring in articles or game reviews about video games and compare them or supplement them with whatever text your reading. I have had a subscription to Gamestop magazine for the longest time. I never thought of using the articles in the classroom until I saw this lecture. Even gamestop.com has online reviews of games. This would allow students who play video games to think about the reading while they play, and the students who don't play are still learning, as well. It would just take some extra research to find games that correlate with the readings. You could even ask the students for ideas of what video games the readings make them think about.

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    1. Good idea. I'm always looking for good nonfiction for the kids to read.

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  2. I am completely with you on using video games in my class, but using their cell phones, iPads, or laptops is an effective way to incorporate technology into the classroom. I LOVE your instagram idea and might steal it from you. I teach Spanish, and this would be neat way to look at art or just see visuals of Hispanic places.

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