ED 4134 Item 2 Online Game

I found a lot of websites that delt with learning the English language (ESL) rather than teaching the NSW curriculum. Some of these would be suited to junior years and students who need help with grammar, spelling, tense and punctuation. On the whole these English Language games cater for the kinesthetic, interpersonal, logical, linguistic, visual and sometimes rhythmic learners. Both the BBC website and puzzlemaker can be manipulated by the teacher to include learning material relevent to their classes.

http://www.englishpage.com/games/nouns.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/
www.puzzlemaker.com

Although these games are fun, educationally they are limited. The best game I discovered for secondary English students was a webquest relating to Lord of the Flies - a good game to get the students into the mindset of the characters and do a bit of psychological exploration.

http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/lhs/teach/webq/lmasterjohnlord/

Cognitive learning requires students to internalise sensory information therefore kinesthetic learners would most probably benefit most from this interactive process, however, doing is beneficial to all types of learners. This webquest requires students to work in groups thus developing intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.

Vygotsky's zone of proximal development is put to the test when students are required to use specific ICT's that may or may not suit their learning style. In this webquest students must create / invent and sell an idea thus engaging with Blooms synthesis level.

The way a teacher uses resources (or often improvises with a lack of them) effects the students ability to learn, according to Hattie. A good teacher would form groups of students all of whom learn differently and design a webquest that catered for the different learning styles; thus encouraging them to play to their strengths, use their talents and also learn from and engage with their peers.

References:
Game 1 http://www.englishpage.com/games/nouns.htm
Game 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/
Game 3 www.puzzlemaker.com
Lord of the Flies Webquest http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/lhs/teach/webq/lmasterjohnlord/

Blooms Taxonomy http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/researchskills/dalton.htm
Gardner Multiple Intelligences http://surfaquarium.com/MI/index.htm
Hattie, J (2005) What is the Nature of Evidence that makes a Difference in Learning? www.acer.edu.au/workshops/documents/HattieSlides.pdf
Vygotsky Zone of Proximal Development http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/step/ep301/Spr2000/Jenna-B/zpd.html