Week 5 - Games Based Learning

WB – 13.02.12

This Thursday (16.02.12) we had a visit from Primary 6 pupils. Our task was to create a context for learning using games and prepare appropriate activities which would link with the game of our choice.

Our group decided to use Mario Kart using the Wii console as we believed the majority of the children would have experience playing this game and therefore would feel confident playing Mario Kart. I believe this is an important factor when introducing games into the classroom, if the children already have knowledge and understanding of the game then hopefully they will be more eager to play it and get involved in the corresponding activities. Prensky (2006) suggests an effective way to introduce games based learning in the classroom is to “'introducing games that children already play at home” (p189).

Our plan for the lesson was to give all of the children the opportunity to play the game, then the children would move on to create their own 3D car on a software programme called ‘Purple Mash’. We had extra activities because we were unsure how long these tasks would take.

‘Purple Mash’ is a resource I was introduced to on my 2SE1 placement. It is a programme where the children can create a 3D object and the computer automatically creates the net for the object. After printing the net out the children then solve the net to produce their 3D object. This software has strong links with Curriculum for Excellence principles because it provides the children with personalisation and choice as they have freedom to create any car they want and can create it as intricate as they want. For example when I was observing the children on Thursday some children would create a car which was more of a traditional car and others would create a very complicated car. Furthermore the children can be challenged using this software as the teacher can encourage some of the more able children to create different shapes which would have a more difficult net to create. Again the children can relate to Mario Kart as they all knew about the game and had all (apart from 2 children) played the game previously.

I feel we made the right choice to use Mario Kart because as soon as the children entered the room they were bursting with excitement to play the game. They were instantly engaged in the lesson because they wanted to play Mario Kart. ‘Purple Mash’ was also an effective resource to use and through observing the children whilst they were creating their cars they were all engaged in the activity and were concentrating aswell. By using Mario Kart the children had an experience of driving a car and looking at different styles of cars to assist them when it came to the activity.

We decided to create 3 posters with 3 headings and the children had post-its where they could leave a comment. The feedback from the children also reinforced the benefits of using games in the classroom. Below are a few of the comments:

What did I learn?

“How to make a 3D car”

“You don’t have to always win”

What could have been better?

“Nothing”

“More time”

What did you like?

“Making and decorating my car”

“Everything”

“I like that we got a lot of help”

I particularly like the comment which suggests that you do not always have to win to learn.

Under the ‘What did I like?’ heading we had expected to see comments about playing the game, however we were pleasantly surprised to find none of the comments were about the game and all of them were about being able to design and create your own 3D car. This has shown us that although the game is important and a lot of fun but the most important part is the learning and trying to do this in an engaging and motivating way.

I greatly enjoyed Thursday afternoon. This experience has proven again how beneficial games can be in the classroom.

When asked what they liked about using games in the classroom, one child said “You don’t have to use a pencil”. This is an excellent summary that you do not always have to write what you have learnt.

Reference

Prensky, M (2006). Don't bother me mom - I'm learning . Oakcrest Avenue: Paragon House