The Use of Computer The Use of Computer Simulations and Simulations and

Gaming to Enhance Gaming to Enhance LearningLearning

Chasmyn SantosChasmyn Santos

ED 480 Educational TechnologyED 480 Educational Technology

Mr. JenkinsMr. Jenkins

What is Computer What is Computer Simulation?Simulation?

• The technique of representing the real The technique of representing the real world by a computer program; “a world by a computer program; “a simulation should imitate the internal simulation should imitate the internal processes and not merely the results of the processes and not merely the results of the thing being simulated”thing being simulated”

• Simulations can enable students to develop Simulations can enable students to develop familiarity with an activity before they familiarity with an activity before they engage in it.engage in it.

Pros & Cons of Gaming in the Pros & Cons of Gaming in the ClassroomClassroom

• BBC News Article

Can Video Games Really Be Can Video Games Really Be Educational?Educational?

• More and more people are saying yes! Teachers, More and more people are saying yes! Teachers, students and researchers are finding ways in which students and researchers are finding ways in which video games increases engagement AND learning. video games increases engagement AND learning. Check out the resources below to get started.Check out the resources below to get started.

• Federation of American Scientist

• Games/Parents/Teachers

• An Anatomy of Games

• How to Choose & Use Appropriate Computer Games in the Classroom

Fun Brain GamesFun Brain Games• All Grade LevelsAll Grade Levels

• All Subject AreasAll Subject Areas

• Fun Brain Games

STARFALLSTARFALL

• A free website to teach children to read. Perfect for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Contains exciting interactive books and phonics games.

• Click on me if you want to learn to read...

Interactive GamesInteractive Games• Free ESL Games that can

improve English and have fun at the same time!

• www.teflgames.com

• Online tool from PBS that helps kids prepare for school by playing interactive games.

• PBS KIDS.ORG

• Math site specially designed for Math site specially designed for what kids like and how they what kids like and how they learn!  Math really CAN be fun learn!  Math really CAN be fun and really CAN be easy to learn. and really CAN be easy to learn. Its got lots of lessons  and games Its got lots of lessons  and games to make math fun...to make math fun... 

• COOL MATH

Conclusion…• Video games can be used to improve ESL instruction. They

expose students to the language, both spoken and written, and the teacher can hold several activities that involve speaking and writing, which allows for integration of the four language skills.

• Video games also keep the students interested in their stories, so they are willingly immersing themselves in the story worlds.

• For example: Students do "book reports" on video games, are usually more motivated than the students who do them on books, and although their writing usually improves on the same level with students who do the book reports on novels, the pronunciation of the students who play video games improves faster than that of those who do not play.

Resources:• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5398230.stm• http://fas.org/gamesummit/• http://www.gamesparentsteachers.com/• http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications-

reports-articles/discussion-papers/Discussion-Paper259/• http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&rid=1859• http://www.funbrain.com/• http://www.starfall.com/• http://www.teflgames.com/• http://pbskids.org/games/index.html• http://www.coolmath4kids.com/