Simulations+and+Games

= Simulations and Games =

Technologies:

 * ===Fun Brain===
 * ===Gizmos===
 * ===Timeliner===

Rationale:
Students are more motivated and interested in learning when it is fun and exciting. Educational learning games like FunBrain provide students the opportunity to reinforce classroom lessons through hands on games and activities. FunBrain is an educational website that provides interactive activities in all content areas for students of all ages. The games can be used to practice and support classroom curriculum lessons and are connected to academic content standards. FunBrain is also a resource for parents and teachers, providing a curriculum guide to match with lessons, downloadable quizzes, and supplemental educational resources like flash cards.

Resources Needed:
Computer with internet access for individual use or computer lab setting for entire class use. FunBrain may be accessed at home or school.

Rationale:
Gizmos are interactive simulations for grades 3 through 12 that are engaging learning tools for both math and science. Teachers use on-line manipulatives to enhance lessons by providing a fun way to reinforce lessons and an opportunity for students to test their level of knowledge. Students are able to explore concepts using Gizmos independently, in groups or with whole class instructions. Immediate feedback is available, resulting in a deeper understanding of the concepts. Open-ended activities are provided that explore different courses of action for an example or problem. Each Gismo activity is followed up with post assessment questions allowing teachers to test student learning once the activity is completed.

Resources Needed:
Proposals and pricing varies and is based on school. Other needs include a computer with high speed internet access, Internet Explorer, JavaScript, Adobe Shockwave Player, Adobe Flash Player, and for network systems Firewalls, proxy servers, and content filters must permit access to content from ExploreLearning.com.



Rationale:
Timeliner is a software program used to visually organize data by creating timelines through sequencing information. The program includes hundreds of activity files for language arts, science, social studies and math for grades K-12. Standards correlations for each activity are available on the Timeliner website. Teachers can use the program for student collaboration activities, a means to assess student understanding, develop critical thinking skills and create cross-curricular projects that enhance 21st century technology skills.

Resources Needed:
A computer with internet access, Microsoft Windows XP or newer, Intel® Pentium®, 1 GB of disk space, CD-ROM for installation, Monitor with 16-bit colors and 1024x768 minimum resolution. The cost of the software is based on the number of computers: 1-computer-$99, 5-computers-$450, 10-computers-$650, 30-computers-$1,050, 50-computers-$1,500, 100-computers-$2,200, Unlimited Site License-$2,600.

Educational Challenges: Student Motivation
Simulation and games are highly interactive and provide students with an opportunity to actively engage in the learning process. Many games provide multiple skill levels that motivate students to challenge themselves and build higher level thinking skills. Simulations can provide students with an opportunity to become more familiar with an exercise and build confidence before completing the activity in a live situation. They also provide student experiences that may not available in the regular classroom setting. Examples include virtual science experiments and world-wide time travel opportunities. Research as found that "games were more motivating than pencil and paper activities in learning." ([|Ke 2008)]. "Students showed increased intrinsic motivation and less concern about grades when using a game format, compared to their traditional classroom. Additionally, their performance improved significantly after using the game." ([|Tüzün, Yilmaz-Soylu, Karakus, Inal, & Kizilkaya, 2009])

Home Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers Homework and Practice Identifying Similarities and Differences Providing Feedback Reinforcing Effort Simulations and Games Summarizing and Note Taking