Workshop 6 - Games based learning

 In our final workshop we came right up to date with the latest tools available in schools to engage pupils with their learning. Children are growing in a ever advancing technological world and it dominates their every day life.
To what degree should schools take advantage of this? If a child is adept at using an ipod touch at 6 years old, can it help in a literacy lesson? It is surely about harnessing a child's interests.

Game based learning must therefore be a success! All children enjoy games and if they can be adopted in their learning, the benefits will be clear.
Reasearch suggests that UK students (specifically at secondary level) are among the unhappiest in Europe, so there is a need to engage pupils successfully.

Wordle

Wordle is an online tool for creating “word clouds”, which are images from text that you type in to the website. You can enter the text or  Wordle can get the text from a website.
Wordle can be used across all subject areas. Teachers use Wordle word clouds for:

• Comparing the themes and word choices in different texts.
• Summarising
• Brainstorming

The results are really impressive and could easily be displayed around the classroom.


Voki
 This website lets you create your own digital avatar. It is like having your own 'mini me'!
The website probablyy describes it best:
“Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters… animals, monsters, anime etc. Your Voki can speak with your own voice which is added via microphone,  typing of text, upload or phone"

”

This is very useful for pupils who find typing difficult if literacy skills are poor as it allows you to use your voice to add text. It would also build confidence for pupils with EAL.

Engaging children appears to be the key. Cost does not need to be an issue when such a wealth of educational websites at their fingertips. All that is needed is a good WIFI connection!
However  it is worth noting that this is not a given in some rural schools so it is more difficult for some to keep up to speed.

M- Learning
Mobile learning is the new buzz word as we can now communicate everywhere with pocket sized computers and more and more sophisticated phones. The possibilities are endless.
Follow this link for a great presentation about  the uses of mobile learning. It looks at all  areas as well as within schools. pretty amazing really!
http://www.m-learning.org/knowledge-centre/presentations/42-mobile-learning-in-the-uk-2009-