Gaming is "Fun"damental

“Dog’s Letter Pit” focuses on identifying letters and letter sounds. The content is fit for preschool and kindergarten students. The objective of this game is to identify letters and spell simple words such as “Hot, Cat and Pot.” Understanding the objectives of any game helps pinpoint the grade level that the game targets. This will then sculpt a model of what I want my rubric to consist of then I can build one with all relevant categories. According to  Rubrics: definition, tools, examples, and references: http://www.tltgroup.org/resources/flashlight/rubrics.htm  “A rubric is an explicit set of criteria used for assessing a particular type of work or performance.”   

With technology progressing each day part of my job as an educator will be to engage students to learn. What better way to engage students than with online educational games.  Online educational games like “Dog’s Letter Pit “ are one of many examples of tools that can be used in the classroom to help students meet their objectives and goals. Online educational games can also benefit special needs children for example, autism. “What is autism?” According to the National Institute Neurological Disorders and stroke: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm  "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a RANGE of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. The spectrum includes a milder form known as Aspergers syndrome. It occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group. Males are more likely to have an ASD than females."  

As a mother of a high functioning autistic child I am well aware of the benefits of online educational games. The many educational applications that are made available by a simple download are endless. Watching my daughter learn and have fun with online educational games makes me happy and the improvement in her academics is noteworthy. Benefits of Online Games For Kids:http://www.more4kids.info/673/online-games-for-kids/ states  "Children who play games online are able to enjoy the reward and satisfaction that comes with the small goals that are often established in games." 

 

Administering tests to see where the students are will help me choose the right online educational game. With an assessment of content I will be able to see exactly what are the student strengths and weakness individually and as a group. Gathering feed back and researching are great ways for teachers to learn more about the individual student and the class all together. This will help me to determine what game will engage students. Also, testing will help me to find out if the game is effective and worthwhile.  

Dog's Letter Pit: http://pbskids.org/wordworld/characters/game_dlp.html

Stephen C. Ehrmann (2013) Rubrics: definition, tools, examples, and references. Retrieved March 12, 2013. from http://www.tltgroup.org/resources/flashlight/rubrics.htm

Benefits of Online Educational Games  for Kids (2009, April 9)  Retrieved March 12, 2013. from http://www.more4kids.info/673/online-games-for-kids/ 


NINDS Autism information page.(2013, February 4th) What is autism?. Retrieved March 12, 2013. from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm