This is a jeopardy game that can be used for first graders as a review of math and English. Students can use this game as a fun and interactive way to review concepts. Students can interact with their peers to come up with answers. Using games to review can be very beneficial because they are interactive and can cause less anxiety. Students can have fun while reviewing in a competitive way that gets them excited about learning. This game also involves technology which is something that all students can benefit in using. This game can get all students involved and allows students to work in teams.

Using games in education can be very beneficial for some students. Gaming provides an alternative method of learning and assessments. Students may not see an educational game as a burden and may be more excited when they learn that they are allowed to play games in an educational setting. There are endless amounts of online games that are educational and a vast majority of these games can be accessed at no cost. These games come with a variety of learning levels, grades and subjects.

Games can be a new way of assessing and instructing students in a way that doesn’t give them anxiety or make them fear learning. Games can also allow teachers to individualize assessing in a simple way. “Games could also be a powerful means of differentiating instruction (by, say, adapting the quest to the learner's abilities) and personalizing -- putting the learner directly into the content they're studying” (Rubenstein, 2010, p.1). Rubenstein also stated that gaming in schools can build critical thinking skills as well as creativity within students.

“Video games have been shown to teach literacy, problem-solving, perseverance, and collaboration. Even games designed exclusively for entertainment integrate skills like literacy and math by forcing players to read necessary information or make complex monetary decisions in order to “level up” (Scott, 2011,p. 1).  Video games give students an opportunity to gain knowledge and apply what they’ve learned immediately. Also with gaming students can have a less of a fear of being wrong and will be willing to take more risks since they are getting immediate feedback from a computer, not their teacher.

There are many ways to incorporate games in the classroom, games that go along with a book; there are simulations that can be used, review games for the class and individual assessments. Games can be very beneficial to students because it ties in something they are already familiar with and enjoy into the school setting. Since children learn by doing, games are a great motivational boost to get students to want to learn. Children can voice their opinions without being shot down or embarrassed. Games provide opportunities for practicing in a more relaxed  way and can be a less stressful method.

References

Rubenstein, G. (2010, june 01). Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/games-for-change-festival

Scott, K. (2011, March 7). Let them play: Video gaming in education. Retrieved from http://digitaldollar.edublogs.org/2011/03/07/let-them-play-video-gaming-in-education/