In my job as computer applications teacher in a middle school, I find that students rush through their assignment so they can have free time to play computer games.
Do you think computer games belong in the classroom?
As a third grade teacher in a school where students have unlimited access to technology, I have found that when games are provided as rewards for work completion, they have no value. Occasionally I've found a well-constructed game with educational value which has been useful in a classroom setting, but I can't get behind offering games as incentives to hastily finish work.
I guess I would have to ask if they are completing their assignments correctly? I don't think it's wrong to allow incentives in the classroom, but perhaps make the tasks more challenging. If they are doing their assignments correctly, then they must have the hang of the lesson, which is good. Another suggestion may be to only have one or two days of computer games. Like, "Incentive Friday," a day where they can play games as long as all their work is completely finished and correctly done.
Hi, Though I am appreciative of the incentives that a reward of game day might provide students, the awareness of games on the computer is a distraction that takes my students away from focus on image generation in my Digital Photography lab. After the first year of having to constantly redirect students from games I finally had them removed. Absence is bliss. Incentives have come from differant directions. Jim Barkley
I do not think there should be computer games on the students' computers at school, with exception to "educational games." These games are to only be played when assignments are fully completed. For example if they rush through an assignment and the quality of work is poor, make them redo it. I think the students will eventually get tired of doing the assignment over and over again. And then they will try hard and give their best the first time they do the assignment! I do not have computer access for my students inside my math classroom, but we do have a computer lab in our building. We use a program (I believe is called "Eye On You") to monitor the students computer screens. We can see on our "teacher" computer the 20 or so computer screens of the students. My point being, you could continuously monitor their progress on the assignment and you'll have a better idea of what kind of quality of work they will be turning in to determine if games will be allowed for them to play. Just a thought!
I do not believe students should be able to access computer games on their student accounts during school hours. I know that my school has a special account which allows the lab administrator access to view what each student is doing on their computers at all times. This program allows the administrator to close out of anything the students are not suppose to have open. The only thing is that as the teacher I do not have the access to the program which allows us to see what each student is working on. I think that the student would be more on task if we were given this access and nothing that everything they are doing is being watched and logged.
I think computer games may have some place in the classroom whether it be recreational or educational. Computer games can be used as a reward for great progress or as an enhancement to a lesson. The challenge in either case would be making sure that the content of the games are age appropriate and school appropriate. One way to face this challenge would be to offer students a list of appropriate sites as well blocking those that are not. You want to be sure that this block is a good one because students have figured out ways to get around them.
I wish I could block certain game sites Liana. You are right, students figure out ways to get around the blocks. A block would deter some students, at least until the bell rings.
As a third grade teacher in a school where students have unlimited access to technology, I have found that when games are provided as rewards for work completion, they have no value. Occasionally I've found a well-constructed game with educational value which has been useful in a classroom setting, but I can't get behind offering games as incentives to hastily finish work.
ReplyDeleteI guess I would have to ask if they are completing their assignments correctly? I don't think it's wrong to allow incentives in the classroom, but perhaps make the tasks more challenging. If they are doing their assignments correctly, then they must have the hang of the lesson, which is good. Another suggestion may be to only have one or two days of computer games. Like, "Incentive Friday," a day where they can play games as long as all their work is completely finished and correctly done.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThough I am appreciative of the incentives that a reward of game day might provide students, the awareness of games on the computer is a distraction that takes my students away from focus on image generation in my Digital Photography lab. After the first year of having to constantly redirect students from games I finally had them removed. Absence is bliss. Incentives have come from differant directions.
Jim Barkley
I do not think there should be computer games on the students' computers at school, with exception to "educational games." These games are to only be played when assignments are fully completed. For example if they rush through an assignment and the quality of work is poor, make them redo it. I think the students will eventually get tired of doing the assignment over and over again. And then they will try hard and give their best the first time they do the assignment!
ReplyDeleteI do not have computer access for my students inside my math classroom, but we do have a computer lab in our building. We use a program (I believe is called "Eye On You") to monitor the students computer screens. We can see on our "teacher" computer the 20 or so computer screens of the students. My point being, you could continuously monitor their progress on the assignment and you'll have a better idea of what kind of quality of work they will be turning in to determine if games will be allowed for them to play.
Just a thought!
I do not believe students should be able to access computer games on their student accounts during school hours. I know that my school has a special account which allows the lab administrator access to view what each student is doing on their computers at all times. This program allows the administrator to close out of anything the students are not suppose to have open. The only thing is that as the teacher I do not have the access to the program which allows us to see what each student is working on. I think that the student would be more on task if we were given this access and nothing that everything they are doing is being watched and logged.
ReplyDeleteI think computer games may have some place in the classroom whether it be recreational or educational. Computer games can be used as a reward for great progress or as an enhancement to a lesson. The challenge in either case would be making sure that the content of the games are age appropriate and school appropriate. One way to face this challenge would be to offer students a list of appropriate sites as well blocking those that are not. You want to be sure that this block is a good one because students have figured out ways to get around them.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could block certain game sites Liana. You are right, students figure out ways to get around the blocks. A block would deter some students, at least until the bell rings.
ReplyDelete