Hi All... welcome to the EDT 511 Emerging Technologies blog. We hope all of you have enjoyed all the different learning activities throughout this semester. We hope that you feel very resourceful in terms of using technology in your own classroom.
For this final discussion activity, we thought we can all blog about SPORE a gaming technology available out there today. For this assignment, you’ll put yourself in the role of the “tech savvy” teacher who has been asked to create a lesson proposal that focuses on creativity and technology integration.
1. Start here by watching Will Wright’s TED presentation.
2. Now view the video “The Science behind Spore”
3. You can download the free Creature Creator from Spore (http://spore.com). The Creature Creator is a small part of Spore but it will provide you with an opportunity to discover how the tools in the game function. Having some hands on time with the tool will provide you with some additional insight and enable you to think creatively about technology integration.
4. Now post your own ideas on this blog on how you can integrate SPORE into a lesson that you would like to teach in your classroom. Here are some sample ideas about the possible uses of Spore in the classroom at this Remote Access blog. Also, please comment on 2 of your peers postings.
I hope you all have fun integrating technology in your own classroom, and help your students enjoy the learning experience. Make it fun and exciting for your students.
We thought we should end this class with another fun and really exciting video of how Wii technology can be used in your own classrooms!!!
Good luck to all of you and Cheers!!
18 comments:
Great job Bindu...we will have a fantastic learning experience with this BLOG!
Best, J
I could integrate SPORE into my science and social studies lessons in numerous ways. The science aspect is obvious, SPORE is a creative way to demonstrate evolution, the galaxies integrate astronomy, the creation of creature integrate biology, the creating of communities and societies integrate sociology, and the needs for the creatures to survive integrate chemistry.
Mr. Will Wright also discussed how you can release CO2 gases in the atmosphere, which is chemistry as well. In creating the creatures and manipulating them integrate mathematics and physics, students can decide how much of something will impact the other creatures. The angles of maneuver of the game itself is quite amazing.
I would allow students to play the game to see the effects and use of all these subject matters at work. SPORE also links to reality, meaning science and technology everywhere. It enables students to be explorers themselves, in which they really are the intelligent minds of the future. The concept behind long-term thinking is so relevant!
I was thinking about how this could be integrated into a lesson on citizenship. There are experiences of cause and effect that could be pointed out as examples of positive interactions (or negative ones). The concept of interdependence and community could also be illustrated as the creatures eventually form a colony. A science lesson involving the effects of Co2 and other gasses on the enviornment could be hypothsized for a second grade classroom. I like the idea of experimentation --could even work in some overpopulation aspect as well. Thank you, Denelle
I think this game sounds really amazing. Lisa and Denelle already posted great ideas for lessons. The first thing that came to my mind was life skills. This game is all about decision-making. It reminds me of an hyper Choose Your Own Adventure novel, where instead of two choices presented to the reader, the player is able to choose a variety of options at any given point. Even though it is made for individual players, I believe putting students in small groups would help to teach them group problem-solving skills, including leadership roles and the art of negotiation and compromise.
-Angela Vasco
When I was in middle school we played the original SimCity at the computer lab. We never had enough time to really get into it. Spore seems like an amazing game with so many potential learning possibilities, but to really get the most out of it kids will need to have adequate time to play it. Although I can see the potential for science and social studies lessons with Spore, I don't think it should replace classroom learning in those subjects. I see playing Spore more as something to be done on Super Friday or at home.
We know that students learn more if they are actively engaged. Video games are designed to be engaging: 92% of children ages 2–17 play video and computer games (National Institute on Media and the Family, 2001). I totally agree with Lisa I also think that we could integrate spore in our science and social studies lesson. As far I know about spore, it “allows players to create a tiny organism and help it evolve into an entire civilization, transforming the concept of evolution to a playable adventure in an online virtual universe.” I think this type of games have a number of advantages in the classroom, they allow students to practice skills that would otherwise be too difficult to implement in the classroom such as “encourage visualization and creativity in finding new ways to deal with a problem while still being able to provide to individual learning styles.”
I like what Mr. Soper and Shohana had to say about Spore. I agree that playing this game should not replace classroom instruction, but I can see, as Shohana said, that playing this game could help students to visualize tough concepts and practice skills. As a child, I was taught that video games are the anti-Christ so, as you can imagine, I have very little experience with them. Throughout this semester, I have begun to see that they do have value, if you are careful about your choices. There are many ways this game could be integrated into science and social studies lessons. I think there is great potential to use this game when talking about ecology and conservation and the effects of pollution on our planet. I believe that when kids play video games, especially in school, they should have as much educational value as possible. It's great to know that people are addressing this and creating games that are fun, but also mind-expanding.
When I first viewed the video my first thought for classroom instruction was an eighth grade science lesson in regards to teaching diversity, adaptation, and behavior (Arizona Standards/concept four). Obviously, this would have to be a long term lesson with students working from a “spore” form to full planetary evolution. But, it would a very engaging way to connect how an organism’s behavior allows it to survive in an environment. Additionally, it provides a very hands-in approach on the relationship of generational change to meet environmental adaptation.
I agree with Danelle on her comments in regards to allowing students to see the impact (visually) of greenhouse gases. Will Wright, the creator of Spore, clearly demonstrates and supports the importance of allowing students to visualize the world, 50, 100 or 1000 years later. I think this is so powerful—students typically cannot think “long range” and having visual support is critical.
Andrea also made great points about the importance of incorporating games in a learning environment. This game in particular requires students to apply critical thinking and reflection to actually be able to play the game---there are multiple layers of learning creating with Spore—where students have to think and solve problems on their own—therefore, creating a strong student centered environment.
One last note…has anyone kept up with the debate over teaching evolution in the classroom? I know it was a big deal a while back…now, of course, I’d love to know.
I think the spore game could be implemented into a science lesson on organisms. The students could create their creatures to show how different organisms affect the environment. I really think that spore is for older students middle grades thru high school. I think it would be a little complicated for the younger students (k-3). I know that most children are into video games these days and to intergrate it into a lesson plan would be challenging for the students and would give them a chance to create as well as educational results.
I like the idea Danielle had on using the spore game for a lesson on citizenship especially the part on forming colonies.
I think that spore is a very fun and beneficial educational game for the kids. I can integrate Spore into my science and social studies lesson in many ways. Particularly, I am planning to create a biology lesson with this technology tool. The subject of the lesson which I will implement into game is evolution because the game already starts from a single-cell organism to multi-cell creature and it civilizes. This game will allow my student to learn about the evolution and what affects it. By controlling the environment of the organism, such as what it eats, what it hunts to survive and so on student will understand the importance and effects of the nature on development of the organism. And understand that bigger and stronger organisms are always has more chance for survival than smaller and weak ones. In addition, they will also have a chance to understand adaptation ways of the organism to the environment.
Hi Denelle, I think overpopulation subject is a very good idea for this game. Students will understand the balance of stocks such as foods and the population. And also they will figue out the importance of them in our lives.
Hi Mr.Soper,
I agree that time is very important for this kinds of activities and the number of the computers in the classroom or lab for the students is also important for a creation activity because each student has their own dream.
Hi Denelle:
I like the idea of using spore to learn about citizenship.Setting up the creature as a colony to show interdependence and community is great.
Hi Andrea:
You make a valid point about children using video games and that they should have as much educational value as possible. It is important to make sure that there is an educational lesson in the video games Children play.
SPORE is a great way to connect students with many aspects of science. I think a teacher could use this game to get students interested in the creation of the world and leading into evolution. It could also be used for lessons on the planets and galaxies. Although, I really like SPORE, I think this is a piece of technology that should be integrated into a higher grade level. I've been pondering ways to use it with the elementary-aged students and can't think of anything. SPORE has shown me that you can integrate technology as a preview towards lessons to get students engaged in the content. I think this would be especially good for students who like to "game."
I love the enthusiasm from the Spore creator, because this video would be even cooler to show to kids and say, "see this guy who makes video games for a living... you could do that if you wanted".
Also the technology behind that smart board cheat is so funny. It just goes to show you how innovative people are with technologies. The majority of people are happy and content to buy technologies from retailers, but there is another group that wants to make it themselves, and be the next inventor. I think it's so great and innovative and it really makes me think, "why not!"
Really cool assignment, thanks.
Wow, SPORE is awesome. Using this type of technology to engage the learner is becoming more and more critical because young people are used to being visually stimulated. They tune out when a "game" is introduced that doesn't have good graphics because it is "boring". I will use gaming technology available to me to deliver content to students in an interactive "fun" environment.
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