Every gamer knows that it is important to collect things along the way that will assist your character in their ultimate goal or mission. Whether this be a special sword or shield like in World of Warcraft or a specific song like in Zelda: Ocarina of Time, it is important to collect these pieces during game-play in order to successful. In teaching, I like to think of these items as classroom tools. These classroom tools can be technology based, paper and pencil, or based on student movement. It isn't about the type of tool, it is about what the tool helps the teacher to accomplish. In my new position this year teaching gifted, I have had the opportunity to test many new tools and strategies in my elementary and middle school classes. Many of them have inspired my students to try new things, motivated them to research something further, or simply caused their educational experience to be brighter for a day. I want to take some time to share these tools, so that other gamers like myself might accomplish the same mission I am working towards each day; to level up education for my students! The tool you see my student using above is called Bloxels. In gamer terms I would say it boosts creativity points by 1,000 XP and covers characters with the cloak of unlimited fun. If you haven't seen, heard of, or experienced Bloxels, then I challenge you to download the app as soon as possible and explore. You will not be disappointed! Basically Bloxels is an app that allows students to create their own side scrolling video game circa Super Mario Brothers NES addition. At first this item may not seem like one capable of leveling up a student's learning experience, but you can't think like a traditional teacher with this one. Imagine students bringing their narrative stories to life in a video game using Bloxel's story block feature, or a student designing a game to reflect a specific ecosystem. The tool allows its users to design and animate characters, layout levels, create their own decorations and configure the enemies in the game. If you are struggling to engage boys into a specific topic, consider how you might use Bloxels to peak their interest. When it comes to the mission of allowing students to create in new and different ways using the same standards we are currently teaching, Bloxels is an amazing tool to transform that learning and boost XP for teacher and student. Who doesn't love robots? I mean they are machines that do what we tell them to do. Bossing these little robots, called Ozobots, around has leveled up my Bright Ideas students in a variety of ways. First of all, this item bestows upon its user the power of code. In today's job world a knowledge of coding is becoming more and more essential for success. Many teachers feel uncomfortable teaching coding because they don't know how to code themselves. The Ozobot provides a great starting point for teachers and students using its corresponding website, ozoblockly.com. With this basic coding knowledge your gamers will complete previously considered impossible missions. Second this items provides its user a pathway to problem solving. Included with the robots are numerous challenge boards that force the player to consider what series of commands to best complete the task. This is problem solving disguised as fun. If you are a teacher on a mission to venture to planet problem solving, the ozobot can be your vessel. Finally, once your players acquire the ozobot, they will be wearing the costume of engagement. With multiple options from technology to hand drawing courses, students can choose what method fits their gaming style. This costume provides unlimited smiles, occasional laughter mixed with focused eyes and minds. It is a must discover for the mission of motivation.
When it comes to collecting items in a game it is important to remember your final mission. As a gamer that can mean many different things from defeating the final boss to escaping a doomed planet. As teachers that ultimately means learning and success for our students. Just like a gamer needs items to assist them in their journey, students need them as well. Each student may require different items depending on the game they are playing, but it is up to the teacher as game-master to decipher and deploy the precious cargo. However, we must always remember it isn't simply having the item that creates success. but how and when we choose to use that item that truly levels up the player. So I challenge you in the spirit of gaming to try something new with your students. Show them an item that could lead to valuable educational XP, but don't be afraid to fail. Failure can be a valuable item in itself. Other tools to try: Scratch Coding Google CS First Little Bits Dash and Dot Sphero Cospaces.io Google Cardboard Flowvella Swift Playgrounds
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Have you ever seen the acronym MMO or MMOG and had no clue what it was referring to? Well MMO or MMOG stands for Massive Multi-player Online Game. Still confused? Does the name World or Warcraft, The Sims, or Clash of Clans ring a bell? Well, if you are still not quite sure what an MMOG is but your are reading this blog, so you may know a little about education then it may be easier for you to understand if I say that an MMOG is like an edcamp. Yes, there it is the burning apple! Edcamps are the epitome of leveling up teaching, learning and living. I think the reason that they provide so much XP is because they have similar elements to that of the most popular MMOG's around. First of all an MMOG is social. The first two letters stand for Massive Multi-player. These games can have thousands upon thousands of people playing in the same worlds at the exact same time. Players in the worlds can interact with each other in a variety of ways depending on the premise of the game. Edcamp too brings together thousands of educators in different ways. It is simply more fun to play the game, when you have like-minded people in the room with you, virtually or physically. You can team up in an MMOG to complete a mission or gain an artifact. You can continue to work with the same players, or you can collaborate with new ones each day. Edcamps are designed for teachers to team up to make positive changes in their educational landscapes. Each session provides new players with which to team up, or if you and one specific teacher have a great thing going, Edcamps provide the flexibility for you to continue that conversation! I think most people have found that the mission is just more fun to complete with someone else. They bring their own talents, items and powers to the task. Together we can accomplish great things whether that be defeating an evil troll in World of Warcraft, or using coding to teach math concepts in your classroom. Another way that Edcamps create meaningful ways to earn XP in the same way that an MMOG engages its players is by using choice. Choice is the pillar by which Edcamps and MMOGs function successfully. In an MMOG the player has the ability to choose between hundreds of missions, situations, or story lines. Each different path will take the character through new challenges, give them new understandings, and provide valuable experiences to gain XP. Edcamps use choice in the same way. Teachers can choose their own story line! By having session boards created by teachers and for teachers, the learning is meaningful and engaging. If a session board doesn't have room for your one burning topic, you can create your own hallway session! If you attend a session and it isn't fitting your needs, you can leave with no harm done! The power of choice is astounding. One of the reasons that MMOG games are so popular is because the player has power over their destiny and control of their timeline. The player is trusted to make their own decisions about where they take their character. Teachers are trusted in an Edcamp to create powerful converstations and meaningful learning. Guys, I haven't been to an Edcamp yet that hasn't rocked my world with amazing teacher leadership and collaboration. I think these MMOG developers are really on to something! Really what it all comes down to is creating culture of togetherness and empowerment. Both MMOG's and Edcamps leave players with a sense of team as well as a feeling of power over the destiny of that team. It makes me ask why we don't have more of these types of structures in our classrooms. If allowing choice and social interaction works to engage and motivate people, why do some of us do the complete opposite every day? It requires work, and you will probably be uncomfortable at first, but it is about what is best for kiddos, not what is easiest for us! I know that I want my students to feel the same excitement I feel every time I leave an Edcamp when they leave my classroom each day. So, let's level up and make it happen people!
Instead of my traditional cheat codes, I want to leave you with some upcoming Edcamps you may want to attend! Mizzou Edcamp-October 15th in Columbia Missouri EdcampDallas-October 15th In Dallas Texas Edcamp Honolulu-October 22nd In Honolulu Haiwaii-(Becase Why not??) Edcamp Colorado Springs- October 29th in Colorado Springs EdcampKC-November 5th in Kansas City Missouri Edcamp SAGU-February 4th-Waxahachie Texas-(My parents live here!!) EdcampSTL-February 11th in Saint Louis Missouri Find an Edcamp close to you and #levelup! |
AuthorGreetings Readers! My name is Taylor Arehart and I am a 6th year Educator in Excelsior Springs, MO. I have taught 3rd, 4th and gifted and talented, but now I am beginning a new adventure as an Instructional Coach. I have a huge passion for transforming education and giving students the 21st century skills they need to rock the world. I am writing about my journey of leveling up! Leveling up means to constantly look for ways to improve in teaching, learning and living. This means in the classroom with my students as well as in other areas of my life. I hope you enjoy reading about my journey (and my students' journeys) to reach our highest levels and rattle the stars! Archives
October 2017
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