EDLD+5364+Week+5

The videos in week 5 gave me a new insight of the purpose of computer and video games in the education system. I knew and accept that video games have their purpose and in their own way teach children and adults alike a certain amount of skills. However, all I could see was the video and computer games were more of a hindrance than a benefit in the classroom because all the kids care about is how many people they can blow up and or how many cars they can crash. I couldn't see past the violence in the games to see just what the students were learning. However, while the students are learning skills in those games the educational games provide a better learning experience for the students. They are able to learn and increase their motor skills while also improving their Math, Science and/or English skills. The videos brought several quotes to the forefront for me; however, the one that really stood out was from Sasha Barab from Big Thinkers: Sasha Barab on New-Media Engagement "As long as we continue to equip teachers with textbooks as the primary resources for the lesson, we don't make available tools, like social networking tools, having computers available and where software is being created to help teachers give students the kind of tools to help engage students in the kind of literacy; we are setting them up for failure." (Barab, S.)

 This goes with the video downloaded from utube called Vision for 21st Century Learning, the author on the video also refers to students just being pushed along from grade to grade with textbooks and lectures as their quality of education. They are graduating from school cramped with a full of facts but very little of the information is being retained.

 As teachers we need to be equipped with the tools necessary to teach these students in an engaging manner. As Sasha Barab talked in regards to Atlantis and video games, makes a lot of sense. Have students becoming engaged in their assignments by letting them become a part of a game is an engaging and educational way to teach a student about science or to get them excited about writing a persuasive essay. The example given in the video was to have the student play the part of a doctor who has to persuade others that his new research holds the link to the worlds' new miracle drug. It gives the students a reason they can relate to; moving to the next level or winning the game is a huge incentive to write a good persuasive essay or to know what makes volcanoes.

Edutopia.org (nd) Big Thinkiers: Sasha Barab on New-Media Engagement; Retrieved from []

youtube.com; Vision for 21st Century Learning; Retrieved from http.//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mirxkzkxuf4