gpmt

Richard Byrne shares six science games that are available online through Rice University. The games include:

* CSI Adventure - six adventures that allow students to become forensic scientists and solve a crime.

* Cool Science Careers - students may explore five STEM-based careers. Students take an interest survey and their adventure will be guided by their interests.

* MedMyst - learn about microbiology with a focus on infectious diseases and how they spread.

* Reconstructors allows you to "gather evidence and data to solve drug-related cases." (3 games)

* Virtual Clinical Trials - become a research scientist and help develope treatments for spinal cord injuries, depression and brain injuries.

* N-Squad - "investigate the effects of alcohol on the digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems."

These games are geared to middle and high school students and these adventures are also available in Spanish!

Can games increase a child's learning and development? It appears that answer is yes. Below are six benefits and additional information is available in the post.

* Increases A Child’s Memory Capacity

* Computer & Simulation Fluency

* Helps With Fast Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving

* Develops Hand-Eye Coordination

* Beneficial Specifically For Children With Attention Disorders

* Helps Children With Particular Skills (e.g. map reading)

This post caught my attention because many of my students are obsessed with Among Us. When you try to include the students' interests in your lessons or even by just having conversations with them about the things they enjoy, learning becomes more enjoyable and strengthens teacher-student relationships. 

Giocando....s'impara! 

Please teacher, more games!

Self explanatory visual on the benefits of gaming as a means of learning. Outlined are the rewards, mastery, engagement, intensity, exercise, readiness, and competitiveness. These types of graphics need to be displayed in the classroom. There's always parents who are unsure of how gaming qualifies as teaching. Can't they just sit their kid in front of an iPad all day at home? Well, in the appropriate setting, with the right direction and guidance, games are certainly good for learning. Some people just don't know that from experience yet.