Module 7 Blog Post 6

 Integrating Gaming and Simulations:

                                                          

For this post I chose a game called ABCya's "Math Fact Basketball." When I was in school, I remember having worksheets with up to 100 math facts on it. Our teacher would time us and each time we would try and answer more facts than the previous time. At that time while answering these problems I had no clue if I was getting them right or wrong. We would then go over it after the time was up to correct our papers. This was not fun to me and because we were timed, I was always anxious. Fast forward many years and now there are so many online fun resources and games to use to supplement and reinforce these math facts.

Math Fact Basketball is a fun and educational game which is designed to help students practice and master basic math facts. Students can choose to either practice addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. There are also three different difficulty levels to choose from either easy, medium or hard. Differentiating based on skill level and practice needed. Students receive immediate feedback on their answers that help them learn from mistakes in real time. Once five problems are answered correctly students are then prompted to shoot a basketball into a hoop. The basketball theme makes learning feel like a game and not like a test. This game can be played solo or with a classmate as a healthy challenge. According to Gee & Schaffer digital technologies including games are letting young people produce products and knowledge and to participate in learning communities as never before (2010). Altogether this game builds excitement and a positive attitude towards math.

                                                      

This game would benefit any unit of study in math because it is simple mathematics. I would implement this game into my classroom as a basic math review before a test or as a fun review during free time.  I do not want my students to think this is something they are being forced to do and take the fun away from the game. Many of my students also enjoy basketball or are involved in some type of extracurricular basketball group. This game is a great way to not only practice math facts but to be able to play basketball electronically as well. The game is already differentiated based on what type of math a student needs to review or at which level they are practicing. If they are struggling, I would suggest the easy level. If they are more advanced, I would suggest the hard level. Each student would be playing to beat their previous score and to keep doing better each time the game is played. I would be able to assess how well they are doing by how many correct problems they answered or how many balls they were able to throw.

This is just one of the many fun and engaging games on this platform. ABCya is a website that offers online games from Pre-K to 6th grade. Subjects range from math, reading, science and language arts. These games are designed to teach skills through play and make learning fun. Abcya also supports many different learning styles such as visual, hands on and auditory. There are so many different games to choose from that there is something for everyone. Another benefit to using this site is that it is completely free. ABCya can be accessed not only at school but at home as well. According to Abrams & Gerber though some may only view videogames as frivolous entertainment, research suggests that videogames involve concentrated, student- centered practices that can support literacy activities in and outside of school (2021).

Shaffer, David & Gee, James. (2010). Looking where the light is bad: Video games and the future of assessment. Phi Delta Kappa International EDge. 6.

Abrams, S. S., & Gerber, H. R. (2013). Achieving through the Feedback Loop: Videogames, Authentic Assessment, and Meaningful Learning. The English Journal, 103(1), 95–103.http://www.jstor.org/stable/244867