Creating an Edmodo Account!

Hello Everyone!

            This week has been very busy, but I wanted to make sure you all were able to learn how to create your own Edmodo account! The process in itself is only four steps, very easy and can be done within five minutes or less depending on how much information you put onto the site. I have outlines the steps below, however I must first discuss the importance of how to keep your online information safe with this site. As I had mentioned before this site is created to allow students and teacher only interact with one another within a single "group" called a classroom. Even though you as a teacher creates the group for only your students, I would suggest that both you and your students only put information that is required to create the account. This website tool is useful in many ways to help reach, and teach students outside of the classroom setting, and can utilize all of those functions without the requirement of important information.

            Now back to the fun stuff, below are the steps with pictures on how to create your own Edmodo account!

Step one: Go online to  www.edmodo.com. Once you are there begin your account creations by adding your email and password under a "Teacher" not student account. Then click on the "Sign Up for Free" button.

Step two: Find the school that you are teaching in! If it is unavailable, add it to their lists with the link at the bottom right hand side. Then click on "Next Step" button.

  

Step three: Provide your title, first and last name followed by the grade and content that you teach. You can even add a customized URL or add a picture at the bottom of this page, but it is not required. Then click on "Next Step" button.

  

Step four: Make sure all of the information is correct on the page and click on the "go to My Homepage" button on the bottom right hand side.

You will be taken to your homepage where you will then be able to explore the numerous possibilities! Next week I will discuss one of these tools that Edmodo offers. 

In the meantime, feel free to play around on your newly created site!

Cheers,

Alex

Second Blog Topic - Edmodo Introduction

Hello Everyone!

            As I the weeks continue, I will be shifting gears slightly from educational games to single topic of Edmodo. This topic is a type of social media and web-based learning tool in which teachers can use to connect with his or her students online after school hours. In simplest terms, this program is similar to Facebook, however only designed for a classroom setting. During my future blog posts, I will be discussing the different capabilities that this program provides to support the asynchronous communication between students and teachers after school hours as well as the web-based teaching tools that Edmodo also has available for teachers. Some tools include online tests/quizzes, online polls, discussion pages for question and answers provided by the teacher and/or students, and more.

This program is an easy access tool as teachers and students create their own page and join specific classrooms "groups". These classrooms are secure such that only students, parents and the teacher have access to any of the content or information that is placed on the page. Once the teacher has an understanding on the site, he or she can then teach his or her students how to use it. Since many students of the younger generation use the social media Facebook, typically on a daily basis, they can learn how to use this tool with ease. The best part about this web-based teaching and learning tool is that it is free to create an account; all you will need is an email address.   

https://www.edmodo.com/ 

Next week I will discuss how to create an account as well as a classroom.

Talk to you all then!

Alex

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills - "Cut the Rope Experiments"

Hello Everyone! 

This week I was looking for a game that worked on skills and strategies, opposed to content based educational games. In my search, I found an application that is available for free on the Apple app store and Google Play store. I spent some time playing this game, and discovered that although does not present content in that would teach a concept to a student playing the game, (as I have been discussing in my previous posts), it does allow students to access and practice their critical thinking, and problem solving skills.

 

The name of this game is "Cut the Rope Experiments." Your job is to help the mad, (but good) scientist study this small creature named "Om Nom" that loves candy. Your mission in the game is to figure out how to strategically cut specific ropes, use bubbles, air devices and other instruments to drop a ball of candy into On Nom's mouth. The game has several levels, which you must obtain a certain about of stars or candy to move on, requiring players to play the game using their critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Although this might seem more of a simple "game" it can be used in classroom discussion by having students work in groups to come up with strategies to :

First - Get all the stars

Second - Avoid any challenges that might be added

Third - Determine the most efficient way to get the stars and collect the candy

Lastly - Give the candy to ON Nom.

The classroom discussions will help students develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills as they collaborate with one another to create the most effective solutions for getting the candy into Om Nom's mouth.

The use of cartoon characters and creative creatures will grab the attention of a student in a wide range from First or Second grade up to Eighth grade if not beyond. If you have a moment, take the time to download this game if you have an Apple or Android device, it is quite entertaining.

Have a great week,

Alex

                                                                                                                     

Science Circuit Game - Hypermedia3

Hello everyone!

 

             This week I wanted to find another game that could be used to teach content. After searching around, I found a game that can be used to teach science content around circuits. The game is called "Hypermedia3" and is based on a science fiction robot that needs help fixing components of his spaceship.

The game opens with the robot Elvis asking for help with his ship. The player must fix three components of his ship by rewiring specific pieces together to form a circuit. As a player completes each circuit to fix the ship, a comment bubble will pop up where Elvis will explain each component and how the specific type of circuit works when all the correct pieces are added.

Once you complete the three parts of the ship, there is a circuit quiz to check for understanding of the content. It is ten questions and are multiple choice. Once you complete the quiz, any questions that you get wrong, you can click on and the site will take you to the point of the game which explains the correct answer.

As an incentive, once you answered each question correctly, you are allowed to play two different types of games. The first one is a memory card game with matching circuit parts and the second one is a maze game to bring the space ship from one side to another with your mouse, without touching the maze walls.

Overall, I enjoyed playing this game and I think it could be a very useful game for students learning about circuits from the 4th grade to middle school grade levels. Try it for fun and see how much you know about circuits.

Here is the link! 

http://www.hyperstaffs.info/science/work/physics/bailey/electro.html

Have a great week,

Alex

River Crossing - Multiplication Facts

Hey Everyone!

For the educational game of the week, I found the game called "River Crossing." My focus this week was to find a game that would support the enjoyment of learning mathematics. During my placement at a school the other day, I was introduced to the game called "River Crossing" This game focuses on practicing multiplication skills in order to complete a task. After playing the game, I believe that it is best suited for students who want to increase their multiplication skills within 1-100 multiplication chart. It could be used from fourth grade, when students know some basics on multiplication learning, to middle school grades where students might desire additional practice with their skills.

The point of the game is to choose two out of the three numbers on a board that will provide an answer on a number board located in a river. You are tasked with creating a pathway to help one of the students "Mike" get across by building planks where answers to the multiplication sentences are located.

You will have to be strategic in your decisions and you have to make sure your answers are correct. If you choose a wrong number, as an answer too many times your path will begin to sink and Mike will be unable to cross.

Once you make it across the game will get harder and you can only create paths in specific ways. You score is based on the planks/bridges you build. The more planks/bridges (aka correct answers) the more points you will receive.

I this game is both engaging and resourceful for the students to work on their multipcation skills while having fun winning the game. See how far you can get! The link is located below.

http://flash.learning.com/ahamath-demo/River-Crossing/content/ScormDriver_Demo.html

Have a great week,

Alex