Game play all day!

In the last day of my computer 8 class, most projects were turned in and I allowed students to search for computer games.  I was amazed at the variety and how many of the games used critical thinking and problem solving.  Even innovation was used as some girls were designing their own wardrobes.

This made me think about games.  Should we use guided game play to learn more?  My class was quiet and the students were engaged in playing or I'll call it learning.  Would this be a better practice for teaching?  Guided play.  After a quick google search on guided play, I was amazed at how many sites included this topic.  Especially at young ages.

Would more guided play help fuse the three Rs and four Cs (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity and innovation).  Something for us teachers to think about.

Check this site out Math Interventions.  Resource to find sites with many games to learn and grow math skills.  http://livebinders.com/play/play/14058  

 Great web site about games for learning:
 Videogames are emerging as a new medium for learning. Advances in modding technologies, graphic libraries, and game editors are making the creation of educational gaming a multi-million dollar industry.
http://website.education.wisc.edu/kdsquire/research.html#designing

Twitter Prompted Writings

I love to look at the trending topics in twitter.  It's really interesting what people are talking about the most.  From the hashtag #idonotsupport, the world cup soccer tournament, to the recovery of the economy it gives you a sense of what is important to many people in the world today. 

In a recent computer assignment, I introduced this web tool called twitter to my students.   I love the concept of getting into the world conversation.  I love the power behind twitter's operation.  I'm still afraid to give Middle Schoolers twitter accounts, due to some of the nasty and obscene post, but I have found that the trending topics are great generators of blog posts.  Having students write about trending topics makes writing interesting, fun, and relevant.

Keep on twittering. Keep on Blogging. Engage in a world of trending twitter topic prompts.