Week 14- Using Games for Teaching & Learning

This week's lesson was very interesting. In class we talked about the functions of games in the classroom. When I played games in school, like Oregon Trail, I did not think I was playing an "educational" game. Today, I see the skills it provided; historical knowledge, planning, and critical thinking. A new 3-D virtual world known as Second Life, offers many educational promises. Here you can hold conferences, lectures, and problems for students to solve. It is just another way that games enhance learning.

Games are definitely an asset in the classroom. I hope to offer students a variety of different educational games, rather than lecturing all day. I am also interested in setting up a classroom in Second Life. The kids would enjoy creating their own avatar and learning the material in a digital world. Listening to educationl conferences that I would not be able to attend in person would also be a benefit.

I obtained the following video from YouTube. It looks at the educational uses of Second Life. The video is especially helpful for those just starting out on Second Life. It shows teachers how to use the functions of the game to fit into their lesson plans. In depth descriptions are also given on how to operate the many applications on Second Life.