Learners Edge Offers 100+ Self-Paced, Online, Graduate Credit Continuing Education Courses for Teachers.

Course Number: 5200: Get in the Game, Game-Based Activities for the Classroom.
Continuing Education Graduate Credit: 3 semester credits.
Course Grade Band: PreK-12+.

I utilized video games rather a bit as a special teacher. Truth be told, I might have missed out on the mark on actively utilizing video games in my unique education classroom to teach. You see, I used the game as a reward instead of as a knowing opportunity. When youve picked a game that will help students satisfy discovering objectives, jot some notes about appropriate places to pause game play and focus on knowing. Step Five: Play the video game with your learners or observe your trainees playing the game.

I love video games! Dominoes, Mancala, Battleship, Life, Apples to Apples, and the periodic (family friendly) Quiplash. It doesnt actually matter whats to be played … if its a game, I am in. I utilized games quite a bit as an unique educator. However reality be told, I might have missed the mark on actively using games in my unique education classroom to teach. You see, I utilized the video game as a benefit rather of as a learning chance. “Finish your reading, and we will play a game.” “Work hard this week, and we will have a Friday Game Day.”.
Looking back, I wish I would have understood about game-based learning for teaching and finding out functions. According to Teacher Academy, “… GBL (game-based learning) is a technique that utilizes the concept of a playing game to reach particular discovering objectives, whether they come from understanding, skills, or mindsets.”.
As a special education teacher, my ultimate mentor goal was to assist my trainees reach particular learning goals! If I had it to do over again, I would utilize the following actions to make sure game-based learning was effective in my special education classroom..
Step One: Identify the particular finding out objective you are practicing or teaching with you learner. Consider the requirements, Individualized Education Plan ( IEP) objectives and objectives, assessment details, and so on to select your knowing objective. an primary student may have an IEP goal that aligns with the knowing target, ” I can put numbers in order from smallest to largest.”.
Step Two: Choose a few video games that you understand well ( or learn a new one!) and think through the video game setup, guidelines, treatments, and so on. Find opportunities within the video game for teachable minutes, abilities practice, feedback, and so on that line up with your recognized knowing goal. As soon as youve picked a video game that will help students fulfill discovering objectives, jot some notes about proper locations to pause video game play and focus on knowing. Keep your notes with you as your students play the game. Following the above example, a teacher could review a video on Rack-o to find teachable moments in the video game to strengthen the principles of purchasing from smallest to biggest. Each time a trainee draws a card, he or she must choose where to put it in their rack..
Step Three: Consider the requirements of each of your learners in case scaffolds are required for them to totally engage in game play, discussion, social exchanges, etc. Believe about pre-teaching, sentence starters, or other adjustments to make the video game accessible for all. To assist with purchasing numbers throughout a game of Rack-o, consider supplying a hundreds chart for students who might require it..
Step Four: Before you play the video game, SHARE the knowing objective with your student ( in student-friendly language). This will assist students connect their video game play to their learning. This likewise increases the probability the trainee can discuss what they found out vs. what they did. For example, with Rack-o, the discovering target might be, ” I can put numbers in order from tiniest to largest.”.
Step Five: Play the game with your students or observe your students playing the game. Utilize the notes you composed in Step Two above to insert discovering opportunities into the game.
Step Six: Provide an opportunity for the student to assess their learning. Think about the development of a video game journal ( or download this one) or an exit ticket specific to the knowing goal. This will solidify student learning and provide you with formative evaluation info to drive instruction moving forward..
With these 6 steps, you can increase the instructional effect of video games in your special education classroom and engage learners with unique needs through feedback, fun, and practice!.
If you are trying to find more info on using game-based learning, examine out our newest mixed learning course 5200: Get in the Game, Game-Based Activities for the Classroom. This brand-new course will give you the chance to reimagine class as places where the expression “Learning is not all fun and games” does not use!.