Gaming and Simulation in the Classroom

      In all honesty, before the work that we have did with gaming and simulations, I did not see a benefit in gaming being involved in the classroom.  My first idea that it could be effective is the first time we we were required to log on to World of Warcraft.  It was essential that I followed the directions in what characters to choose.  Unfortunately, I failed to follow the directions and chose the wrong type of character.  After doing this, I was unable to make it to the realm that I needed to be in.  Following directions is one of the most important things a child will learn in school.  It is just as essential to follow directions as you go throughout the game as well.  You are given tasks to perform.  If you read the directions you are given, it is relatively simple to complete the tasks.  However, without following directions I was instantly lost.  This will make it clear to students that directions are necessary.
      Another evident way World of Warfcraft would be beneficial was the way that it was used in relation to economics.  When our group started this project, I was really lost in how we were going to be able to relate the World of Warcraft economy to that of the United States.  However, the relation between the two was crystal clear once we began doing our graphs.  This would be an excellent tool to use in a middle or high school social studies class.  It would give the students a chance to comprehend the concepts of economics without having to keep their noses stuck in books.
      Gaming is an excellent way of making learning easier and more fun.  Anytime a student can learn without knowing they are learning is a good thing.  After the research and gaming we have did as a class, this is more apparent to me than it was before.  Another great benefit to gaming would be the skills in communication that students will gain.  This gives students a chance to communicate as characters so they are less worried about getting teased. 

Fun in the Clasrrom

We all know that we send our children to school to receive the best education possible.  I think students will learn better when they are able to have fun in the classroom.  This fun should come from educational activities where the students are learning hands on.  If a child finds something fun, they will be more likely to want to learn about it.  If a child is expected to sit in a boring classroom where there is never fun going on, they will become bored and stop learning.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! My name is Sheena Goble! I cannot wait to meet you all on the first day of class!