Gaming and Simulations

I really liked the "Active and Critical Learning Principle" because it engages the students in learning in a more active way.  It also allows for critical thinking which is important later in life when trying to solve problems that arise.  I also liked the "Practice Priciple" because learning through a game is always fun.  Students will invariably ask to play the game because its so much fun, little do they know they've been tricked into learning.  Practice and repition is crucial in learning math, so this is a great way to get students to practice.  The "Discovery Principle" is another important principle in learning.  Being able to take the current knowledge and getting out of the norm and really explore a subject it makes the material more real to them, and possibly more engaging and interesting. 

Simulations are a great idea for a teacher with a smaller budget, and I could definitely support the idea.  I'm not really sure how I would incoporate this into a physical education class, but I can see the benefit in a science class.  It would allow students to disect frogs without the smell, or with out having to clean up afterward, or they could create new chemical compounds in a virtual simulation without the students accidently blowing up the school.  It allows for more creative and interesting combinations with the fear of loss or messing up.

Engaged students are learning students.  It's very difficult to keep the students engaged when using the older forms of teaching.  Kids today have information flying at them at a million miles a minute, so droning on and on will create a glazed over look from your students.  Being active and practically engaged in learning or doing and creating is a great way to keep all of your students engaged in the material and thus promotes learning. 

 

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R., & Crismond, D.,(2008). Meaningful Learning With

Technology (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall