Playing Games

We had a session last week trying out games on various electronic devices. I actually found this a bit disappointing (sorry Mandy) for several reasons.

Firstly, for some reason I had thought we were having a session on animation, which I was really looking forward to. So I felt a bit "awwww" before we even started.

Secondly, when the group actually got to play the games, I found it frustrating trying to work out exactly how each device worked in the short period of time we had available. It would have been less irritating if we had been able to get straight on and play the games. I think that this was exacerbated by the fact the first game we tried to play (the F1 game) had a leangthy and complex set up process, whilst the second game (on the Konect) was also confusing to set up players and access the game.

Finally, none of the games really appealed to me as a player, with the possible exception of Prince of Persia (which I didn't get the chance to play as a certain group member was a bit of a fan and rather hogged the controls!

However, none of this changes the fact that I do believe that sensibly used games devices can greatly enhance learning, providing an opportnuity for increasing engagement and enjoyment, and stimulating children by offering them familiar leisure activites within a learning context.

Schools and autism

Am currently wading through paperwork on behalf of my eldest son, who has ASD and is struggling at school. Found this quote on a well known mums website I occasionally browse through, and it so sums up the problems!

Trouble with schools is their lack of empathy, absence of theory of mind, poor awareness of emotions, difficulty choosing the appropriate thing to say, inability to build or maintain relationships beyond a superficial level. Oh, plus their inflexibility, routines and obsessions

Exactly.

Should Education be more like a game?

Found an interesting article online today - which makes it look like I was doing research for my ICT module, but in fact I was looking for information on a completely unrelated topic. Anyway,in the course of my meandering I happened across a quote which made me think of my ICT module, so I looked up the source of the quote, and it turns out that it is a really interesting thought on the similarities between the skills used when learning how to play a computer game and the skills which are required to be successful in school.

The article argues more that school based learning should in fact learn from games, creating a more incremental and meaningful sort of learning - learning that is used immediately and usefully in order to achieve a goal. It is not obviously useful for my essay - which is more about using games within education, but is certainly thought provoking. Find the article here: Good Learning

Another interesting thing I came across this morning is a "prezi" about maths education, and I am impressed by both the content and the way of presenting it. Wondering if it might be an innovative way to present my next uni presentation! Check it out here: Math is not linear

What I haven't done this weeek - and REALLY should have - is finished my Understading the Learner essay. I cannot think where the week has vanished to - Friday already!!!