Game-Based Learning: An Emerging Technology

Game-based learning is likely to enter mainstream use in the educational community within two to three years.  According to the 2011 K–12 Edition of the Horizon Report game-based learning is one of the six educational technology trends to watch.  The Horizon Report is highly accurate at identifying emerging technologies.  Game-based learning will affect students in today's classrooms because of its ability to engage and motivate students, to get to the next level and succeed.  Game-based learning has come a long way from its earliest form of single player drill and practice games like Reader Rabbit and Math Blaster.  The games of today include productive role of play, which allows for attempts to use experimentation to solve real world problems.  These productive role play games encourage students to develop critical thinking skills. The Horizon Report (http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2011-Horizon-Report-K12.pdf) identified several classroom games that may be seen in classrooms within the next few years. 

Classroom Games:

• Hexagon Story (go.nmc.org/aneal), an award-winning alternate reality game (ARG) in which students must solve a mystery by answering initiation questions across multiple disciplines and following clues sent to them via email, text messages, etc. from fictitious characters.
• Mind Snacks  is a popular app in the iTunes store that boosts students’ foreign language skills and fluency. 
• PopMath Basic Math is another well-received iPad game app that turns the notion of flashcards into a timed or un-timed game filled with colorful bubbles to sharpen arithmetic skills.
• Community of Reading Engagement (go.nmc.org/ujriu) is a game that uses juvenile literature to focus on higher order thinking skills. It is a web-based game with a fun game show format. 
• A Crash Course in Saving the World (go.nmc.org/tjwmt). EVOKE developed a free and open social networking game that simulates real global issues to empower people to find new and innovative solutions.
• Finding Identity (go.nmc.org/zjjig). Finding Identity is a social science game that teaches K-12 students about history, culture, and life values using a 21st century approach to storytelling and collaborative puzzle solving.
• Ghosts of a Chance (go.nmc.org/rrbbw). Ghosts of a Chance allows visitors to the Smithsonian American Art Museum a chance to decipher codes, follow treasure maps, send text messages, and uncover hidden objects in this multimedia scavenger hunt.
• Quest Atlantis (go.nmc.org/hisxo). Designed for students, ages 9-16, Quest Atlantis is a simulated, 3D learning environment that combines strategies from commercial gaming with educational research on what motivates children to learn. Students participating in this game learn and apply skills in multiple disciplines, including mathematics and environmental sciences.
• Quest to Learn (go.nmc.org/gdayk). Quest to Learn is an entire public school in New York City founded in 2009 devoted to teaching children through game play. Among other key features, the school is focused on rigorous college preparation and inquiry-based learning.
• World Without Oil (go.nmc.org/shzdy). World without Oil was a collaborative and social imagining of the first 32 weeks of a global oil crisis. The simulation was designed for participants to gain a better understanding of disaster response.

Watch the video below to listen to Jane McGonigal talk about the ways that games can help to solve real world problems such as hunger, poverty, and climate change and attain the “epic win.

Using Glogster!

Glogster allows teachers and students to create digital, multimedia posters about any topic.  Glogster is a great way for teachers to share information with students.  Glogster also allows students to create their own posters in order to demonstrate their learning.  I created a Glogster poster for my first grade students to use in our unit "Where Animals Live."  I will use this poster to share visuals and videos with my first grade students.  This will help to build background about animals.  With younger students Glogster adds great visuals.  Older students can create their own Glogsters.  To view and interact with my Glogster click here.

You can see a preview of my poster below.

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What's the Weather Playlist

We are starting a new unit about the weather!  I have created a playlist of fun videos about the weather.  Watch the videos to learn more about the weather and hear some great weather songs.

Great Internet Resources!

I have created a list of my favorite educational websites for students.  These resources include kid friendly search engines, games, and activities.  The resources are all appropriate for first grade students.  Parents should know that the Internet is filled with great resources to help children learn!  If you use this list you can get you started guiding your child to safe and educational Internet based resources.

Click here to view my list of educational websites!

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is any technology that allows you to do something that you would not be able to do otherwise.  There are many forms of assistive technology that can be extremely beneficial in the classroom.  Assistive technology can improve the access to technology in your classroom.  It can also improve the access to content for students with learning disabilities. Watch this video to find out more about assistive technology.

One assistive technology software that has the potential to be extremely beneficial to diverse learners is Nuance Speak & See Suite.  Nuance Speak & See Suite provides reading and writing support and improved access to technology for those who are learning disabled or sight impaired.  There are four different tools included in the Suite.  It provides a reading and writing support toolbar which converts text to speech as it being read or written for those with difficulty reading and writing.  It magnifies the screen or selected areas for the visually impaired and provides color overlay for easier viewing of computer screens. Another valuable tool the software offers is language learning assistance to help English language learners with word pronunciation.   Nuance Speak & See Suite also allows the user to dictate and edit in most windows based applications as well as surf the Web using voice commands.

To see more information about Nuance Speak & See Suite click here.

The Importance of Acceptable Use Policies

With Internet access widely available in today's digital world it is vitally important to develop acceptable use policies in order to maintain the professional integrity and safety of students and teachers.  Please watch my presentation on acceptable use policies to learn more about the issues involved for students and teachers and to see what should be included in an acceptable use policy.  Click the arrow > to advance the presentation.  To make the presentation full screen use your mouse to click the more button and select the full screen option.

Check out my favorite technology and education blogs!

Welcome fellow teachers, parents, guardians and students!  I have put together some of my favorite blogs about education.  These sites have great information about technology, teaching, learning, and education.


 Click here to view the blog posts!

I grew up in Idaho and love all of the outdoors experiences that the state has to offer!  I love everything from boating and swimming in the lakes to snowboarding or hiking in the mountains.  My adorable dog Cookie loves to hike with my husband and me.  I grew up in a household saturated with technology.  My father who is an electric engineer always had the latest and greatest technology.  I remember the progression from Laser Disc to DVD to Blu Ray occurring as soon as each new technology became available.  I am comfortable with technology and I know that it is an integral part of today's world.

I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree from Washington State University.  I am currently doing coursework towards a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Northwest Nazarene University.  I believe that a teacher should never stop learning or become stagnate in their practices.  Our students are never the same from year to year and we should not teach them as if they are.  The world we live in is changing and as teachers we need to be responsive to the digital natives that are our students.

I have had some wonderfully exciting and challenging teaching experiences!  I taught reading and language intervention for sixth seventh and eighth grade students in the middle school and I have taught first grade for several years.  Teaching students to read is my passion.  Reading is a complex and non-intuitive process and it is so rewarding to be the one to teach students this skill that is so necessary in today's world. 

I am striving to incorporate technology to engage my students in learning.  I am always looking for effective tools to engage and excite learners. To be responsive to the digital age I am incorporating technology as much as possible in my first grader's education.  The amount of technology that is available to students today affects the way that they learn and therefore I believe that technology should be utilized to create learning experience that are meaningful to students today.