Bow street runner

Today In mandys lecture we were put into groups and all given a different online game to play and evaluate. Me being me and never ever playing games.... couldnt think of anything worse. The game we were given was called 'Bow Street Runner'. This game was a murder mystery game set in the 50's. The aim of the game was to find clues to take you to different levels and to eventually solve the case. However The game did not give enough instructions and took you straight on to the murder scene without even telling you what to do. I spent half an hour clicking on everything I could see and with one last attempt of anger I clicked on something constantly for 20 seconds which took me to the next level.I then gave up. After talking to mandy she let on how there are clues and cheats to getting through the game. After she showed us and explained it I think I may have enjoyed the game a lot more had I known beofre. After playing the game I filled in a form about it commenting on its strengths and weaknesses. Overall I think I have learnt something from today....... I am NOT a gamer :( x

powerpoint confusion

Today in Mandys lecture we presented our powerpoints from last week and were meant to then upload them onto here. However the other members of my group are ill and I do not have the presentation to upload. As soon as I get it I shall upload it for you all to see and think about which choices you would make :) x

what do I think about gaming?

So I have been asked today to think and discuss about how i feel about online gaming. If Im completely honest I can only ever remember playing one online game,...... DX Ball. I was in my first year of comprehenesive school and spent every evening for a month playing it, trying to beat my sisters score. Apart from that I have very little expirience of online gaming. However although i do not have the greatest experience, I do have some strong opinions to how I feel about online gaming. Online gaming can be an amzing thing but at the same time can be dangerous, addictive and can cause trouple (e.g online poker etc). Everyday I see at least one person on thier phone, ipad or computer playing some kind of game whether it be candy crush, flow, GTA or MOTOR GP. These games can all be fun and inicent if played in moderation, and in spare time around thier every day lives. Lots of poeple become addicted to these games and will spend hours all day and night playing them, trying to get to new levels. I belivee this is unhealthy as it is shutting them off from the real world and making them believe that they can do things that is illegal or bad. How can a game where you get into the head of being a killer healthy and safe for children to be playing? Would you really want your children fantisising over shooting people or blowing up cars and causing mass distruction? there is always the cahnce that people get so involved in these kind of games that they could one day turn out like that in real life. Howveer although I disagree with these types of games, I also feel that there are games which can benefit you and make your brain work and think faster. An example of this is flow, which is a game where you realy have to think hard about how to complete it and it is almot like solving a puzzle in school. Other games such a moto gp have posotives and negatives.... A boy at the age of 15 could buy it and by playing it could get a feel for driving, gears, accelarating and braking which could then help him when learning to drive. Howver on the other hand he could be so used to going at 200mph and crashing,driving on the side walk etc that it could have an effect on him when driving casuing danger to him self and others. As you can see I have little experience myself, yet know and see a lot of other people who play and are "addicted" to online gaming. there are lots of posotives and negatives to gaming and im sure in the future will be used in classrooms around the world to help students. After all if children can focus, concentrate and sucseed like they do when playing these complex games, amagine what they could learn in the classroom. See you next week :)

education futures.. a new year :)

1 year later and im back blogging.... something that I didnt think Id do again. If im honest I didnt sleect this module as im completely useless with technology, the only thing I am confident using is facebook so this could go one of two ways for me. Altough I dindt intend on doing it i have actually really enjoyed my first lecture and a part of me is quite glad I was put in for this module. Mandy has calmed me down by essuring me she will be there evry step of the way.... so I guess I can only get better :) Weve been set a task to complete by Mandy, which is as followed: 'Over the last decade there have been vast changes in the way we live, learn and work, and with the advancement of technology and new learning tools, these things will continue to evolve. Today’s learners need new skills to survive and thrive in the future. Education should combine practical, intellectual, and social skills as never before'. What do you feel about the statement above? What does this mean for learning environments? How has technology impacted teaching and learning? This is 100% correct. In my years of education I cant think how many new tools and new technology has been invented and used within schools and colleges. I remember back to primary where there was one oom in the whole school called the "ITC centre" in this room there where 5 computers which were HUGE! they had small blurry screens with a massive box attatched to the back, not allowing them to be within a meter of the wall. As I went into compehensive there were a lot more computers around the school (still the same size). When I reached year 9 I remember the school putting thier first flat screen computers into the itc suite. it was amazing! everyone would fight over the new ones until the school decided to replace EVERY computer with a flat screen. As the years went on this became the norm and everyone whould start having thier own laptops and computers at home which they would use for hoework and research. Now I am in uni I look at what primary schools have now; ipads per student.... It is unbelievable to think that just 12 years ago we were all sharing 1 huge computer and the thought of doing work on computers at home was never heard of.By having these computers and ipads, it enable teachers to set work for children to do in there spair time emaning they can get more done during school. Computers can also be used for fun and games and even chatting to friends. It is a very dull thought when thinking about having no technology and these days we rely on it so much the world would almost come to a stand still. I believe lots of skills can be learnt from the computer however it is an easier alternative for children and games etc can become addictive leading to a lack of social life. Computers should be used however in moderation so that we still encourage childen to go outside, have fun and make friends through interaction; the way it has always been done. So far so good.... I think im getting the hang of this :) thank you Mandy Peace!