game-based learning
The last ICT class was definitely an interesting and fun one! (: Basically two groups presented. The first one was more of a hands-on activity for us as we took on the role of a student and played the game (using quandery) that the group had prepared. Game based learning usually engages players through an activity that has a storyline. It was interesting and fun, but yet at the same time, I felt that there were drawbacks to it.
The second group presented on makebeliefscomix. The graphics and images were very cute as there were various characters that one can choose from. If I didn't remember wrongly, it should be 15. And each character has 4 different emotions. A storyline can then be formed via a comic strip. Talking and thoughts bubbles can be added to express the character's emotion. The comic strip is definitely cute and it allows the students to put on their thinking cap and be more active in learning. However, there are not without drawbacks as well.
One of the drawbacks is that only a maximum of 4 frames can be selected. To summarise a storyline in 4 frames can be quite difficult I feel. As what the group has mentioned, it tends to oversimplify something that can be quite complex.
After the groups had presented, we had game-based learning!!! whee!! We played wii and of course some other games. There were altogether 5 stations. Each lesson we'd be playing 2 stations!
The first station that I played was some surgical game. Through the game, I learnt about the steps to take when conducting a surgery. My group's patient unfortunately did not survive for 3 times. haha. It was definitely fun though I do not know what else I havelearnt. Ha. The second station allowed us to explore various subjects depending on which one we choose. My friend, Lisa, and I, played this game that allowed us to improve on our English. Ha. Basically, there were 4 words that were located on the top. And out of the 4 words, we had to identify which are the adjectives, pronoun, noun, adverb, verb, preposition etc. It was very interesting as I did learn which type of words belonged to which group.
Through the 2 games, I realised that they are both collaborative games rather than competitive ones. It allows the team to come together to solve a common problem. In a way, collaborative games has its advantages as each member would attempt to help one another to achieve a common goal. If competitive games were used, students who constantly lose would develop a sense of failure, and eventually, may stop wanting to learn more through the games as they feel less motivated to do so. Students who constantly win the game, on the other hand, would be more engaged and eventually, learn more.
I believe through the lessons to come, I will learn more about game-based learning and also, on the various ICT tools as the other groups present. (:
- When I was playing the game, my group totally skipped all the instructions and proceed on with the questions.
- While doing the questions, we were more interested in getting the questions done in the shortest possible timing. Thus, the information that was presented did not really register in my mind.
- At the end of the game, I couldn't recall what I have learnt.
- The students played a more passive role in the activity compared to the teacher who had to do all the preparations beforehand.
The second group presented on makebeliefscomix. The graphics and images were very cute as there were various characters that one can choose from. If I didn't remember wrongly, it should be 15. And each character has 4 different emotions. A storyline can then be formed via a comic strip. Talking and thoughts bubbles can be added to express the character's emotion. The comic strip is definitely cute and it allows the students to put on their thinking cap and be more active in learning. However, there are not without drawbacks as well.
One of the drawbacks is that only a maximum of 4 frames can be selected. To summarise a storyline in 4 frames can be quite difficult I feel. As what the group has mentioned, it tends to oversimplify something that can be quite complex.
After the groups had presented, we had game-based learning!!! whee!! We played wii and of course some other games. There were altogether 5 stations. Each lesson we'd be playing 2 stations!
The first station that I played was some surgical game. Through the game, I learnt about the steps to take when conducting a surgery. My group's patient unfortunately did not survive for 3 times. haha. It was definitely fun though I do not know what else I havelearnt. Ha. The second station allowed us to explore various subjects depending on which one we choose. My friend, Lisa, and I, played this game that allowed us to improve on our English. Ha. Basically, there were 4 words that were located on the top. And out of the 4 words, we had to identify which are the adjectives, pronoun, noun, adverb, verb, preposition etc. It was very interesting as I did learn which type of words belonged to which group.
Through the 2 games, I realised that they are both collaborative games rather than competitive ones. It allows the team to come together to solve a common problem. In a way, collaborative games has its advantages as each member would attempt to help one another to achieve a common goal. If competitive games were used, students who constantly lose would develop a sense of failure, and eventually, may stop wanting to learn more through the games as they feel less motivated to do so. Students who constantly win the game, on the other hand, would be more engaged and eventually, learn more.
I believe through the lessons to come, I will learn more about game-based learning and also, on the various ICT tools as the other groups present. (:
posted by eunice @ 3:04 PM
1 Comments:
I am glad that you enjoyed the gaming session at the MxL. I'd like to point out two things.
First you mentioned that your group did not read the instructions that your peers prepared for you. Your students will do the same thing and there is nothing wrong with that, not initially and not all the time. If they don't need to read the instructions but can play the game anyway, why read? Similarly, it they already know something, why try to teach it to them again? This is one approach to take away from game-based learning.
You also noticed how the games seemed to be collaborative instead of competitive. I'd say that some games are designed to emphasize one or the other, sometimes both. But it is also the learner who can choose to collaborate or compete. For example, you could have competed while playing Trauma Center instead of collaborating.
Competition does not necessarily lead to failure and is in fact an important aspect of game play. But when learners do fail in a game, that is often a good thing. In fact success in gaming is built on failure, and with it the players' persistence and their ability to adopt different strategies in order to overcome a failed attempt. Failure is a terrible, demoralising thing in conventional teaching and learning; but failure is gaming is an accepted fact that players are motivated to overcome. That is another important takeaway in game-based learning.
--Dr Tan
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