#games4ed discussions cover ways in which gaming can be used in education. Games mirror the way the human mind was designed to learn. They motivate players to take risks and actions, persevere through failures, set and achieve increasingly difficult goals, and devote attention, time, and effort to acquiring knowledge and skills. All this while the game is tracking the player’s actions and assessing the player’s achievements and skills. Isn’t this what we want from education?
#games4ed Intro. Heulwen in #Melbourne. Work in mainstream highschool supporting Deaf students accessing learning. Vocabulary game #Typo is a firm favourite. I won with "bodgie" once!
Hi all! Melissa from Nebraska, 11-12 ELA. Tweeting live from our theater practice :) But I couldn't miss tonight's topic--it's one I love! Favorite word game: currently Wordscapes #games4ed
Mike Fauteux, Oakland, CA, Innovator-in-Residence at Leadership Public Schools & cofounder of nonprofit GiveThx. Favorite word game? Always like hangman. #games4ed
I'm Christine in Boston! I write educational stories/games at an AI startup. My favorite word game is "Word Twist" an old Facebook competitive anagram gram. Or doing the crossword if we count that as a game. ;) #games4ed
A1 This has evolved during my teaching career. At first, I went with the selected vocabulary given. Then I chose them. Then I had the students choose the vocabulary they thought was new/unique/challenging. I always like words in context of our topic. #Games4ed
A1: We have a new system that we're using called Fairview and I also try to look at the words that are going to best help my Ss understand the story that we're reading. #games4ed
A1: I look ahead of what we'll be learning each month and see which words will not just help them understand what we're doing but also connects to other content areas and life #games4ed
A1: So far we mostly haven't words that kids "should" learn while playing our games. Within each content piece, we do define words that are important for understanding it. In socio-emotional content we sometimes expand feeling word vocab though. #games4ed
Definitely agree with words in context. I've occasionally had Ss choose their own...sometimes they choose great, sometimes not. I might need to figure out a vetting system #games4ed
We would typically have the students submit words, then we would, as a class, narrow them down to the bread and butter. The good: students owned the words. The bad: different vocabulary for each section. #games4ed
#games4ed a2 Current philosophy is to stick with student curiosity and it appears to work. I do a bit of extension with synonym and antonym work too. Plus ALL will play any vocabulary #game.
A1: Course/topic specific I unpack for sure. I also consider universal academic vocab & words often in instructions w/ subtle diffs in diff classes to increase access. Lately, been focusing on learning SEL words / behaviors / etc. as I realize they aren’t self-evident. #games4ed
A1: no set curriculum here for vocab so I look to past year papers and assessment books to understand what my kids need to know. Pulling out words from their fave books like harry potter works too #games4ed
I do like that a lot! May have to try that next semester. But I feel you for different words and different sections...especially when I have a stash of Quizizzes and Kahoots and all! (Sometimes we have to sacrifice...I know...) #games4ed
A3: When we introduce new words in SED content, we often do it as part as perspective-taking moments. Story pauses to let kids assess situation & context clues to help them learn to ID their own feelings. It's embedded into the content and context. #games4ed
Yup, therein lies the challenge. More vocabulary lists to keep tabs on, create assessments for online, etc. Not too bad, but still a consideration! #games4ed
A4: I love WordGirl's games where students use vocabulary to complete the games. Using knowledge of vocab to solve puzzles or riddles is fun & creative! #games4ed
A2: I actually use @Schoology Tooltips to help my students learn words in context. When I focus only on vocabulary, though, I tend to work with ClassTools. #games4ed
A2 - Related words. Start with a word and ask Ss to name related words. And then words related to those words. Can spark an interesting discussion around words. How the starting word A may be related to B and C but B and C have no obvious relation to each other. #games4ed
I'm getting more and more interested in SEL. One word we have right now is empathy. Although it's likely a word many know, it's one I want to emphasize its importance #games4ed
A2: I think the Wikipedia game, paired with meaningful reflection is a great way to get students making connections. Students start with one word (wiki page) and have to get to another only by clicking on hyperlinks w/i wiki pages. #games4ed
A2: We use the @givethxapp we built. Ts teach a behavior (i.e. patience, encouragement). Ss & Ts then write thx notes to each other & tag note w/ a behavior they recognize the other for. The note reveals degree of understanding the term. Reinforces behavior, too! #games4ed
I don't think isolation works. It's best if it fits context of what is being studied or read IMO. Or as @jonspike said, having Ss contribute and plan the words #games4ed
That is a great idea to let the students choose vocabulary words. It would provide a lot of insight into what they are thinking about the lesson. #Games4ed
Q3: Even Maslow recommends playing games to help students better learn vocabulary.
What are some innovative games or activities that you've used with students to learn new words?
#games4ed
A2 Full disclosure: I'm just going to steal everyone's ideas from #Games4ed on this one because I feel like I didn't have a very exciting way to introduce vocab, heh.
A fun variation of that would be a collaborative CYOA story. You start a google form with story prompt and a choice. Students make a choice and then write the next stage, using vocab word(s). Each stage must end in a choice so the story can keep branching. #games4ed
A2 - Related words. Start with a word and ask Ss to name related words. And then words related to those words. Can spark an interesting discussion around words. How the starting word A may be related to B and C but B and C have no obvious relation to each other. #games4ed
A3 I love love love using Pictionary Man as a game for students to practice vocabulary. They get really creative using him to demonstrate terms & have other students guess #games4ed
A3: I've been using @gimkit and @quizlet live early when Ss are learning definitions. Later I try to do refrigerator magnet sentences or musical chair writing once they know the definitions #games4ed
A3 Also gonna throw out some love for Rory's Story Cubes - having students roll these and then come up with scenarios with the vocabulary words & dice images is great fun! #games4ed
A fun variation of that would be a collaborative CYOA story. You start a google form with story prompt and a choice. Students make a choice and then write the next stage, using vocab word(s). Each stage must end in a choice so the story can keep branching. #games4ed
#games4ed a2 Working with 2 resistent students but these #magnets appeal. So now we do a sound connected #vocabulary a week and it is even in their time. Gadgets appeal to this lot. That and decorating with emoji magnets. Whatever makes it connect.
It can be fun to brainstorm these lists. Back in high school when I was writing a lot of stories for fun, I made a list of every variation for "said" I could come up with and taped it to my desk. (I know some writers say only use said, but...) #games4ed
A2: trying out some available #gamified english vocabulary resources on @DeckToys done up by other T's. My kids like the challenge within since it works like a game path, not a boring ol' lesson! Here's one https://t.co/Sgr43Z9N6s
A3 It’s silly but charades is pretty fun and the kinesthetic aspect really helps Ss internalize it. Used to have my Geometry students play w/ acute, obtuse, planar, coplanar by acting things out together. #games4ed
Q3: Even Maslow recommends playing games to help students better learn vocabulary.
What are some innovative games or activities that you've used with students to learn new words?
#games4ed
Q4: Often, students are assessed with a traditional vocabulary quiz.
What are some more playful or gameful ways to assess student mastery of vocabulary words?
#games4ed
A1: Since I was a science T, I'm gonna answer for science, not vocabulary. In Israel, our curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education. Not much autonomy there unfortunately. #games4ed
A3: this is a good opportunity for students to be the game constructors. Challenge students to create game structures that represent the vocabulary authentically, or to generalize so the game can fit a rotating list. Even publish the student games to share with others #games4ed
A4: I challenge students to write their own story using the words, or to write the words connecting them with interesting careers, like panda caretaker or Secret Service. Gives them choice and makes it more fun! #games4edhttps://t.co/JG2vfxX7Tx
A4 - I really like having students do live-action comic strips in Google Slides, Storyboard That, etc. Basically they snap photos of themselves & a partner, add speech & thought bubbles with vocabulary & tell a story with themselves as the stars. Always fun! #games4ed
I haven't tried this one. Especially with Google Slides...it would be really easy! Or even a scavenger hunt but then write captions using the word #games4ed
A4 - I really like having students do live-action comic strips in Google Slides, Storyboard That, etc. Basically they snap photos of themselves & a partner, add speech & thought bubbles with vocabulary & tell a story with themselves as the stars. Always fun! #games4ed
A3: I'm going through everybody's answers and taking notes. Going to pass the, on to my FB group of Israeli Ts - there's about 2,500 members all into games and learning. #games4ed
I've taken some Apples to Apples cards and made some definition and vocab cards the same size...then played dominoes with them. My seniors thought it was pretty fun! #games4ed
A4 - Please don't say crossword. Please don't say crossword. Crosswords, when you know the answers must be from a set list, are a logic puzzle. You don't need to know anything about the words. #games4ed
Q4: Often, students are assessed with a traditional vocabulary quiz.
What are some more playful or gameful ways to assess student mastery of vocabulary words?
#games4ed
A4: I would sometimes have Ss write a very short story w/ a set of vocab. I’d judge their understanding based on the accuracy of how they used the words. It got pretty creative. #games4ed
Q4: Often, students are assessed with a traditional vocabulary quiz.
What are some more playful or gameful ways to assess student mastery of vocabulary words?
#games4ed
A4 Crap, I forgot one of my favorites... the Google Image Battle Royale... 4 students each put in a Google Image they think best captures the vocabulary word & explains why. Class votes on the best one. New 4 enter the arena & repeat! #Games4edhttps://t.co/ERyThQkiu6
I love the idea of connecting vocabulary other content. I would be interested in how you connect with other content. Do you connect to other content within your class or other subjects?
#games4ed
You say the definition of a word.Then you Flip the words until the word that matches the definition match. Then the students grab for the word. #games4ed
Ss need something to hook the learning on and even better an opportunity to discover the meaning themselves. This can’t happen if it is taught in isolation. #games4ed
