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We recently ran a training session on using the computer games ‘Myst III – Exile’ to develop student’s literacy skills – in particular, writing.
This builds on the fantastic work that Tim Rylands has done using Myst in the classroom.
We have developed a teaching pack for primary schools that can be downloaded for free here:
Character Profile Sheets
Sequencing Activity
The activities use the game as an inspiration for creative writing. The Teacher presents game footage through the interactive white board and interacts with the students to discuss game tactics and choices.
The game is a first person adventure games with fantastic graphics and sound that lend themselves to reading and writing activities linked to the fantasy genre. It is hard for writers (never mind young writers!) to create these kinds of worlds on paper as they are very different to what we know – children have no context for this kind of writing. What would you see in a fantasy land? What would you hear and smell? How would it feel?
It’s a great immersive experience made possible through ICT that definately produces results in terms of motivated learners, enjoyable lessons and great writing. As one of the teachers working with us using Myst said:
Myst has been fantastic, I have some excellent writing I can send to you. I … made the game fit the 5 different stages of a story – opening, build up, dilemma, events and conclusion. Children watched each part of the game and then wrote the appropriate paragraph for their story… the quality of work has been excellent.
Myst can be bought relatively cheaply through Amazon or other computer games seller and all you need to run it is a PC and whiteboard.
I have also developed planning for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 3 but these aren’t at the stage the Key Stage 2 planning is – I was very fortunate to have the support of Steve Smith – the Sheffield Learning and Achievement Service’s Primary Literacy Advisor on this. I’m happy to send anyone who is interested the Key Stage 1 or 3 planning – just email me sarah(at)nwsclc.net.
How to use Endless Ocean and the Wii in the Classroom…
I recently delivered some training days and support for primary teachers wanting to use the Nintendo Wii game ‘Endless Ocean’ in the classroom. It’s a really great game for using across the curriculum in everything from literacy and maths to art.
Here are a number of resources those of you who are interested in using the Nintendo wii in the classroom.
I found the following blogs particularly useful:
Tom Barrett’s Blog – Useful posts and links to his planning using Endless Ocean in the classroom
The Consolarium – Useful site with case studies and resources for using games across the curriculum.
Hot Milky Drink – Derek Robertson’s blog on using various games and consoles in the classroom
Below are a selection of planning documents showing the sort of activities we used with students. These included writing a divers blog, keeping a tally of the number of different species encountered, using excel to creat charts to interpret that data, scripting and recording either an audio or video interview with a ‘diver’ and creating presentations following reasearch into different species. These presentations were either done through Kar2ouche, Power Point, Comic Life or collated through a class Wiki using Wiki Spaces.
endless ocean planning – My planning that I used for an activity day at the CLC that explored using Endless Ocean across the curriculum – Ive slightly adapted it to show a range of activities that could be done over a week or half term.
Below are a number of the student resources we created to guide them in their activities.
Creating a Diving Record in Excel
Instructions on how to set up Excel to create a chart representing the tallied number of species.
Simple tally chart to collect number of different species encountered.
Instructions on how to use a free word press blog (can also be created for free with EduBlogs) to keep a divers journal.
Simple writing frame to get the children started with writing a script.
Twilight Training Programme
We are offering a number of twilight training sessions, free to partnership schools.
Studywiz Learning Platform Training
Multimedia in the learning platform including audio podcasting, using video and other methods that teachers and their students can easily pick up.
Mon 7th Dec 4:00-5:30pm
Developing Literacy Through Computer Games
Use of ICT has been found to increase engagement with reading and writing, especially with boys. This session will include some practical activities that can be delivered in the classroom.
Weds 9th Dec 4:00-5:30pm
Film Making for Primary Schools
Simple activities using Microsoft Movie Maker and low cost hand held digital video cameras to get students started with film making.
Film Making for Secondary Schools
Simple activities that use Microsoft Movie Maker and a range of digital video cameras to get students started with film making – ready for OCR Nationals, DIDA and for use across the curriculum.
Tue 12th Jan 4:00-5:30pm
Frog Learning Platform Training
Collaborative learning. Using tools on the learning platform to get pupils working with each other and their teachers.
Wed 20th jan 4:00-5:30pm
Taking Animation Further
How to add titles, narration, music and sound effects in Digital Blue Movie Creator to make better animation.
Thur 4th Feb 4:00-5:30pm
To book your places on these courses please call 0114 2855586 and ask to speak to Dave / Sarah.
Games Technology and Learning
At the Emerging Technologies Conference I said that I would start to compile a list of games (Wii games, computer games, Xbox games, PS3 games etc) that I’ve known to have been used in education alongside a list of the ways they’ve been used. Here is the list so far..
If you have used a game in the classroom or know someone that has then please drop me a line and I can add that to the knowledge base.
Endless Ocean – Nintendo Wii
- Primary Ks1-KS2 Cross Curricular Themed Learning (See ‘Learning Using the Nintendo Wii’ , Tom Barratt’s blog and Learning and Teaching Scotland’s site for more info)
- Geography and Science at KS3 (i.e. Ecological Relationships)
- English at KS3 (Stimulus for fiction and non fiction writing)
Wii Sports - Nitendo Wii (Free with console)
- Hand-eye co ordination development for students with special educational needs
- Maths – Bowling and keeping a mental maths record of scores, data recording and charting, probablity with older pupils
- English- Writing non fiction recounts – i.e. match reports
(More info here)
Guitar Hero – Sony PS2
- Primary Ks1-KS2 Cross Curricular Themed Learning (Designing CD cases and T Shirts, writing guitar adverts, science experiments with pitch and volume) See what Learning and Teaching Scotland have been up to.
KS3 Science
- Physics – Line Rider and Professor Heinz Wolffs Gravity- explore forces such as gravity
- Biology – Trauma Centre – Second Opinion (Nintendo Wii)
Workshop Resources – Using Endless Ocean in the Classroom
Here are some of the resources from the workshop on using the Nintendo Wii game ‘Endless Ocean’ in the classroom delivered at the Emerging Technologies Conference on 25th September.
Presentation – The presentation on what the CLC has done so far with Endless Ocean and the Wii
Web Resources
The Consolarium – Learning and Teaching Scotlands excellent site with advice and case studies on using games based learning in the classroom.
Tom Barrett – ICT in my Classroom – Tom has been using Endless Ocean with his class and has planned some fantastic activities aimed at KS2. He has also shared his Literacy planning through Google Docs.
Twitter – Follow Tom – Tom has been updating his tweets about Endless Ocean in the Classroom – a good up to the minute guide with practical ideas
Game Making Resources – Using the free resource Game Maker in the classroom – planning for KS2
Adventure Author – Game Making with Literacy links – suitable for upper KS2 and Ks3. Includes teaching resources.
ClustrMaps
