Week #5: Assignment #2 Games in classroom Philosophy

Assignment #2 Write a brief statement on your philosophy of using games in the classrooms (from the teacher and the learner's point of view).  

       By playing games, students learn by understanding a new concept or idea, take on a different perspective or experiment with different options or variables. For instance, in a classroom where students are divided into small groups, each group is set with a different objective on what to do in their particular group from the instructor depending on the lesson. In return, students are able to communicate and solve problems together by using ideas from the students’ different perspectives in the groups. These groups may include playing games as well, where students who are interested in playing games instead of the teacher initiated classroom instruction, are more motivated to learn based on their increase of interest in the game. Games used in classrooms provide a context for engaging practice where countless workbook pages or textbook exercises are not always engaging and effective to meet the needs to all students who learn in different ways. With playing games, students are able to learn a variety of skills including critical thinking skills, creativity, teamwork, and good sportsmanship while allowing students to express their creativity in the result of the group work. In addition, with playing games students are able to make a connection between the content and form positive memories of learning. For instance, I remember when I was in 3^rd grade, I remembered my all my 3 multiplication table by a song that was introduced to us by watching a Youtube video. Included in the Youtube video was a song “Jingle Bells” and with the tune, the 3’s multiplication song was song and memorized and up until now I use that same tune match with the content. In addition, games grabs students’ attention and actively engage them in the content of the lesson, especially after a day of sitting in one seat lectured and being tired and need movement to release some of the energy inside. Here is the overall summary list of why games are important to use in classrooms:

1   1)      Increase social impact/interaction/communication skills

     2)      Develop the idea that learning can be fun

     3)      Rebalance positive energy in the classroom

     4)       Solve problems

     5)      Meet the needs of different learners

     6)      Motivate students

     7)      Help students mater previously taught content

     8)      Fun way of teaching students new content while tied to the curriculum