EDLD+5364-week+5

The reading assignments this week were informative and I was impressed with the examples in //Using Technology// and actually plan to use some of them. However, I truly enjoyed the video selections this week. In my opinion, the best video of the week, in fact of the class, was the interview of Professor James Paul Gee. I watched this interview twice and I may go back again. In one of our earlier classes, the idea of gaming came up. The idea that I so enjoyed during this interview was the idea that students learn from failure. They make mistakes and they persevere and work through the problem. They seek out help when they cannot get figure out a problem (such as Game Spot.com or a game guide). If someone could make a real video game that was played by learning Algebra, perhaps students would not see a set back in math as an excuse to shut down. If they would push through to understand the game, thus pushing through the math block, it would have fantastic results.

All of the games I found that are available for Algebra are similar to the ones at Gamequarium. Although it does ask questions, they are very basic and rote. The graphics are terrible and interaction with the game is nonexistent. Then I came across the game Dimension M (M for math). The graphics are comparable to current interactive, multi-player games. The website states that the material is Algebra; however, the only schools participating in the competition in the included video are middle school students. Middle school students can take Algebra 1 but many times topics are introduced as Algebra topics when in fact they are in preparation for Algebra readiness which it turns out this software addresses. Even though this software does not address the Algebra 1 curriculum, it is an innovative breakthrough. If this software is profitable for this company then they will see a market for creating games linked to more math subjects. I did see on their website they are rolling out a Science based game in the near future.

Before finding this game, I did not believe gaming was conducive to teaching Algebra and the math courses beyond. Dimension M has changed my mind and has opened up the possibilities. If students see it as a game, they may feel more compelled to work through their difficulties, use the book as a resource and have fun in the process. As in all video games, //"f// //ailure doesn't mean you are a failure... it just means you haven't succeeded yet" -// //Robert Schuller//.

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