Does building games result in learning?

I have previously blogged about the Constructionist theory, however, I feel I need to mention another article I have read by Yasmin B. Kafai who talks about the constructionist theory in terms of children building there own games in particular video games. The article is called Playing and Making Games for Learning, and speaks about how just being a responder to a game even if it is an educational game the learning outcomes are not as high as if the students had actually participated in the building process. By building a video game a child or student does not only need to know how to interact with a computer but how to program it. This concept provides so many opportunities for a broad range of skills to be strengthened.

As Kafai mentions video games are becoming increasingly more apparent in everyday life, and the concentration that a child has with the computer whilst playing these games is rarely seen in any other context. To use this information to our advantage as teachers we should provide opportunities for students to immerse themselves in not only playing games but building them too.

We have all heard the learning can be fun and we learn whilst playing but now children can build the fun and the play. 

Thanks to this flickr'

Kafai, Y. (2006).  Playing and Making Games for Learning: Instructionist and Constructionist Perspectives for Game Studies. Games and Culture,  1(1), 36-40.

Technology can provide the support!

Whilst following Matthew Kearney’s blog I came across an interesting post focusing on technologies being able to support special needs students. Along with most people I am aware of the amazing things that technology has done for may special need students over the years, however I was thinking of things such as wheelchairs, not iPods and iPads. It was not until I watched this powerful video that I did not see the potential these new technologies provide. This particular video focuses on how iPods and iPads provide students with Autism a way in which to comminicate in their own way and involve themselves in class activities in way they may not have previously been able to.

This video is thanks to A. Paratore

A Good night in with your fellow educators!

I found through the subject Professional Experience 3 at Uni I have been immersing myself in readings that relate to using technology in the classroom effectively. I found it fascinating so far, for someone who thought they were pretty good with technology I now know how little I knew seven weeks ago!

I found the most recent assignment we had to complete was very helpful it ensured that we know how to assess all these fantastic e-learning resources and do not just choose the pretty ones or the ones that have the most gadgets! I found it very beneficial and hope you do to, so this is why I am sharing it with you! Here is my video with Janna.

Zebra, Kerpoof, a storybird what do these have in common?

Well, no a zebra did not go kerpoof with a bird…these are just some of the sites that took my fancy on Monday. Our class was devoted to listening to our peers and what e-learning resources they had discovered, and how the could contribute to meaningful learning in the classroom.

I must admit that I have been a little worried as to how I will use my new knowledge of technology in my up and coming prac as I have kindergarten and I think something like a digital story may be going overboard, however when I was shown the site roythezebra.com I thought a-ha I can use this. It is a fantastic site that was explored by Jane Logan and Belinda James and has some wonderful literacy activities that I look forward to using.

Kerpoof was another site that was explored by my fellow classmate Kate La’Peyre which is a e-learning resource devoted to learning through creativity allowing students to draw, paint and even make movies. In the short time that I was shown this site I saw some great possibilities and look forward to researching it further and one day soon, using it!

Lastly Katie Martz and Erica Sereni presented a website storybird.com which is essentially a website that allows children to write short stories that are inspired by pieces of art. The site allows student to share and print their stories as well creating a very collaborative learning experience, this was another site that I will not shy away from in my prac.

Thanks so much to everyone for a great lesson, I learnt so much!

It's Time To Hit The Beach?!

I have many happy memories of playing on the beach and building sand castles with my dad, and I’m not talking your average sand castles…these were epic they had tunnels, towers and slides for a tennis ball! But little did I know that I was learning.

The idea of the constructionist learning was pioneered by Seymour Papert, however I have learnt about it by reading an article by Idit Harel who speaks about constructionist learning through the analogy of constructing sand castles. The idea of constructionist learning is that children can learn whilst playing, doing, creatively and unexpectedly. Yet, constructionist learning is not limited to constructing with concrete materials it can be used via technology as well. Idit Harel talks about a couple of e-learning resources that allow students to continuously build on, reflect on, share and extend on. This is an idea that truly needs to be applied within classrooms and I’m going to do my best at doing so!

A reflection of my own learning!

Harel, I. (2003). Sand castles go digital. Retrieved August 4, 2006 at: http://www.mamamedia.com/areas/grownups/new/21_learning/sand_castles.html

Our special guest

Today in my professional experience class we had a special guest. So I prepared my self for a guest to be standing in the Mac Lab, however when I arrived Carmel (the guest speaker) was up on the big screen via Skype, I was a little impressed. 


This lesson prompted me to reflect upon my prac last year, I had forgotten that my class had infact had a video conference with a famous author. The author spoke to not only my year 2 but five other schools were involved too, the students were so excited and loved seeing themselves projected up on to the big screen, however they soon calmed down and listened intently. We had shared question time at the end of the session two students were selected and in a big voice asked the questions. I found this a great experience the students felt as though they had an excursion however it only took an hour out of the school day, by no means does it replace having a real guest or going on an excursion but it does provide a great and different experience.


However today's guest speaker was not with us to speak about video conferencing but digital story telling and how to intergrate these into the curriculum. Carmel provided us with a great insight into teaching students how to develop their own digital story. Carmel's visit today was a very valuable experience and I intend to put her methods into practice in my next prac, I do have Kindergarten though so wish me luck!

I just want to thank my fans

Well last week in class we began developing our very first digital story, well I thought about it I nervously went about finding photos to procrastinate actually using video software. However today nearly a week on and I am happy to report that I plucked up the courage to develop my first digital story, you must forgive me for a couple of mistakes it seems to have cut off the last 2 seconds of speech that I am going about fixing, but I was too excited to wait so I thought you could see this version too!

I truly believe that my mac helped me achieve this video, similarly to Miss Kate I have made the switch recently from a PC to a Mac. I did not realise until this class that I was not using the mac to its full potential, it provides software such as PhotoBooth, iMovie and Garage Band that are simple to use and really effective. I look forward to developing my skills further!