Video Games to enhance Education

NBA 2K16

https://www.2k.com/games/nba-2k16

     The NBA 2K16 franchise is focussed on bringing the best true to life NBA experience. You can create your own player and go through that mode, create your won franchise and manage your team or even play on line and improve on your skills as a manager or player. With specialized effects and true to player movements this game is expected to be the most authentic NBA game out there.


     This game has become so realistic that to play it successfully you have to have sound knowledge of the basics of basketball. How to defend against screen and rolls, setting up plays and attacking lanes, boxing out and rebounding, all are at the very center of of the game. Seeing as I am a coach of basketball I find this game and most of its predecessors very informative and entertaining. Not only do they manage to get special moves and features of real players you are able to design your own.

     I have seen where this game has simplified my coaching job. By teaching in the gym and then going to play the game, I have noticed that they have a natural unconscious understanding of how the game should be played. So what I have done is teach them in the gym then show them in the game. This not only becomes fun and competitive but they begin to see how the game is really played and how ingenious the creators of the game are.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_Creed

   
     Assassin's Creed is an action-adventure game series that spans across nine individual games and many different consoles. The games are played in a fictitious history in real world events and stays true to the line of Assassins fighting for freedom and justice against the Knights Templars. This game is played in the third person on an open world setting where you have free will to explore and they span from England to Italy during varying eras.

     This game has high quality for geography as it supplies a wide array of locations and maps to be discovered. I found it to be very action packed yet it allows for analytical skills to be show cased when solving how to assassinate or retrieve important documents. This game also expects the player to flex their creative ability to think outside the box as situations are more than likely structured in a way that forces you to think like an assassin.
 
    As for educational purposes, this game helps teach how to read maps and can even improve comprehension skills. Being set in eras that we study in history and do not pay attention to, this game allows us to see bits and pieces of historical truths and locations. In my class this game would be very interesting as they provide a written pop up for every voice transaction. It also expects you to read maps and documents to solve puzzles necessary to complete tasks given. You have free reign to explore and converse with people of all natures.

Mobile Learning Technology

iPads in the Classroom

http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/31-Reasons-You-Should-Be-Using-iPads-in-the-Classroom

With access to over sixty five thousand educational application programs and the ability to utilize all the different types of media, the iPad is fast becoming the device of choice in the classrooms. With apps like Nearpod, teachers have the ability to directly send quizzes, videos or information to students devices. These students can access the information, respond and leave their work in the teacher's inbox.

With the ever increasing technological field and accessibility by students to these devices it is only prudent that we begin to use them in our classrooms. Many students complain about classes being boring and one dimensional so as educators we need to get with the times. Today's students have been using mobile devices from as early as one year old so by the time they get to school their ability to maneuver through the devices and its functions is almost second nature.We have to use devices and activities that allow us to align their education with how they interact and communicate. So to increase inclusion the use of the iPad in classes is one such step.  This device is very interactive and allows for students to do a variety of actions, from recording video to downloading graphs, books or audio.

The iPad is a small light weight device that is not as distracting as a tablet and seems to be less thief proof as the device can be kept on person. I like the option that the iPad gives for teachers to grade work. This could be very useful if I were to have quizzes using this device. As well It has apps that allows the teacher to structure and create special lesson plans for individual students with disabilities or who have had setbacks due to illness, injury or transfer.

Cellphones in the Classroom


http://www.isteconnects.org/docs/excerpts/CELUSE-excerpt.pdf

Cell phones are probably the simplest form of mobile device, however they have become faily powerful. These devices can access the internet and can be used for group discussions via text messaging of voice messaging. Most phones have cameras that can take pictures or record videos and these can be very useful for projects or audio and visual examples. These mini-computers have become more than just a means of communication but a direct source for interactions with internet services.

This is the easiest device for most students to get as many are inexpensive. It is also a small device and easy to cart unlike larger devices that are a bit bulky. Students are constantly on them so we might as well utilize them. There is an on going battle concerning the use or distractions created by these devices but if the teacher can structure and organize educational content and activities using these devices it will be easier to reach today's student. We would be speaking a language they understand as most of these students have grown up having access to these devices.

These cell phones are mini computers as they allow you to interact with the capability of a lap top. The speed which people can text is similar to how an experienced typist types. I think this device is the most efficient for online classes or seminars. It allows someone to be able to access groups while being almost anywhere where there is access to the internet. I can send assignments through specialized social network groups and my students can receive that information even if they are not in the country.  It is extremely useful for the person who travels for work and might not have the down time to get the lap top out for class. This is the instant "pop tarts" breakfast to the education world and as an educator I would use it as such for assignments to be handed in or class memos that need to be shared.

Social Networking in education

WhatsApp Instant Messaging 

http://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/viewFile/3909/3700

     WhatsApp is an instant messaging, cross-platform smartphone messenger that utilizes users’ Internet data plan to help them network socially in real time (WhatsApp, 2010). This particular social network allows its users to send and receive a large cross section of media like pictures, videos and audio messages. This APP can be utilized on numerous devices and is applicable for a variety of software and allows access to creating special social groups.

     This is a simple reality that people spend more time on their phones and internet friendly devices so it is a matter of convenience and practicality that we should use this type of option to enhance education. Then there is the ongoing battle of getting these devices out of the classroom because of the negative impact and uses while in the classroom. However, if used properly these apps can be a very efficient and inclusive tool for teachers to use.
   
     This app provides an unlimited number to the amount of messages you can send to each other so this is a very practical, mobile possibility for education. At convenient times for each student, they can exchange text messages, voice notes, images, videos and discussions in a social group up to eleven persons. A teacher can create a group for his students and throw out discussion topics that might add to what could not be completely discussed and explained in the classroom. For the student who has problems expressing themselves in that tight unit of classroom time this allows for a longer think on topics as well as the student who is afraid of speaking in class, this allows an impartial, non threatening opportunity to speak.


References:

WhatsApp. (2010, November). Retrieved from BlackBerry App World:


SKYPE in the classroom

http://www.skype.com/en/about/

     This technology allows for face to face interactions between individuals through the internet. It allows you to text, create voice and video so that people can share experiences regardless of where you are on the planet.  You can have a meeting with work partners by using the video group option or you can have individual conversations. This app is accessible on your phone, computer or even televisions with the particular specifications to support the app.

     The accessibility of this social network technology allows for a more than one dimensional interaction. We get to see who we are talking and who is speaking. It creates the atmosphere for positive personal interactions without being present and allows for students who need to see and get that instant answer, to get that.

    Using Skype in the classroom can be very convenient especially if you want to have a guest speaker that might not have the time to go to your classroom in their schedule but might have the time to do a skype for some minutes. This app also allows you to take virtual field trips and explore different locations that might be financially impossible or logistically difficult to get to. This virtual field trip is also very convenient as it allows you to take your students on an educational journey without having to take all day.

Talking Text books and synthesis

http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=106

     This particular technology bridges a gap in certain classrooms that was difficult to cross. It is digital texts that can be read out loud by utilizing the recorded voice or specific speech programs. It also allows for the educator to create segments where feedback can be given or to advance the level of literacy, no highlighting of texts. For the visually impaired or the student who does not like or the student who finds reading difficult, this technology creates the opportunity for the paged texts to be heard which in turn supports the growth of key literacy skills like reading and comprehension, fluency and positive engagement and motivation. 

     We have too many students who are afraid to read because of varying reasons but that should not be the source of their anxieties and fears. This technology can alleviate some of the fears that can arise when reading aloud in front of peers. This is also a very positive method of identifying accents and proper pronunciations of words if you are in the ESL/EFL courses or someone who just wants to learn another language.

     The applications for this technology are boundless as it supports the growth of language on a whole. I would use it in my literature classes to help students who struggle with reading and understanding the written word. It comes with the action of “follow along” like karaoke words and this can be used to increase the speed of a student’s reading. As well for the ESL classes where mimicking the sound of the words is important, this program can be used to help them with reading and sounding of words.

Youtube/ Online videos

http://www.edutopia.org/youtube-educational-videos-classroom

     This has been a very confrontational topic because there are many videos on this site that are inappropriate for class use and so schools tend to block this site. However, the use of videos can improve the quality of the learning experience and Youtube.com provides a specific service that allows educators to register and set up a video list of materials from the educational video sites provided and use them in their classes as well as have students access them. 

     The way how students learn has evolved to a point where videos and video games have become second nature for them. So teachers have to compete with this ever expanding array of new tech and by utilizing videos they are able to reach out and in a sense connect with the millennium student. Having this connection is key to the learning process as it helps with inclusion, retention and motivation.

     I have used videos in my classes before and they have brought to life the works that students found difficult to understand by reading. The poetry recitals and stage presentations of Shakespeare triggered a positive response from the students because they are able to see and hear the differences instead of imagining them. I think that allowing students to video and present their own performances is an excellent way to bring them into the work they are doing. It allows them to treat the texts like it is their work and inspires creativity.

Smart Board (http://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/using-smart-boards-in-the-classroom/)

     This technology allows the teacher to produce a document or work on the computer and project it onto the white board. This information can me manipulated and erased with the use of specially designed accessories. So students can go up to the board with the specialized pen and add information onto the document or erase and make corrections making this tool highly interactive. 

     As adults we tend to want to over look the importance of simplicity and basics. This particular technology seems to be geared towards children in primary school because of its interactive capabilities and possibilities however I believe this is just as effective a tool for adults as it is for children. Adults still need interaction and technology like this can make things easier to the concepts of English or Literature.

     As a  teacher of English I think that this particular Smartboard technology can be extremely useful in the writing process. You can directly produce a piece of work that can be manipulated by students. Imagine writing essays and being able to put it on the board for editing by the class. If you are teaching proper sentence structure you can actively include students in the identifying and corrective process so that they can see and do corrections or recognize what is the proper structures for writing. Another positive activity this board can have in my classes is for the breaking down of poetry, Shakespeare or other literatures. It can provide an opportunity for students to actively identify, literary devices, mark translations or interpretations for all to see.

E-Books ( https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/how-english-teachers-use-ebooks-in-classroom)

     This internet based technology allows you to access books online. With the continuous demand for new books and a variety of them, these programs allow students to access them from different devices at their leisure. So it becomes a matter of when and where, when they are ready. For those students who cannot afford the text books or devices, some students are kind enough to share their devices and in a class where there are few of these devices, if the screens are large enough they can share between a few students.

     In my country resource materials are hard to find and e-books would be a beautiful answer for the student who cannot find the book because all have been sold out, none available because they did not order any or the book is extremely expensive and the family cannot afford to spend the money for it. Many students start the school year and continue throughout the year without text books for these various reasons and I believe if they had access to this program then they would and could use it. 

     There is no doubt this is useful technology in my country. I believe some students already have access to such tech in our classes and it is extremely handy because they can access texts online an download them for later use if they want to. Just like text books, these devices can be shared if a student feels kind enough. Now everyone does not have the excuse of not having their books.