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Featured-image-Keep it Fun and Challenging – 4 Learning Resources-iCivics

16 December 2020 Dr. Kelly Edmonds

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Featured-image-Keep it Fun and Challenging – 4 Learning Resources-iCivics

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Learning through Gaming – Why Use this Strategy

Learning through Gaming – Why Use this Strategy

Creative ThinkingGaming is a controversial activity that most youths like to engage in, these days filled with technology advancements and bright screens everywhere make it possible. Although some argue that too much time is wasted playing useless games, there is a strong case for the importance of education learning through gaming, and for good reason. Boosting Socialization and Self-Esteem Most of the game-based learning platforms create an environment where the students can interact among themselves, create teams, and help each other overcome obstacles. The outcome is that the children learn subjects like algebra and computer programming, which boosts their self-esteem while working with others and improving socialization. Develop Strategies and Critical Thinking Like any other game, those designed as part of learning platforms come with several obstacles and challenges that must be overcome by thinking things through. The students will be faced with having to make key decisions in a matter of seconds and they will be dealing with the consequences of what they choose, good or bad. Problem Solving and Managing Frustration If the decisions that they have made have brought them more bad than good, the students are more encouraged to push through and solve the issues as it is gamified. This, in turn, transforms frustration into a much more positive way of looking at things and trying to figure out how to do it better next time. Technical Skills for a Technical Era Although students can learn just about any subject through games, perhaps one of the most valuable things that they develop are technical skills. Since they will have to use computers and any kind of electronic device, they are eased into handling it and associate it with learning instead of just all play and no gain. Working with the student and for the student will always provide better results than forcing them to struggle through learning and gamification is a wonderful strategy to do it. [...]

Keep it Fun and Challenging – 4 Learning Resources

Keep it Fun and Challenging – 4 Learning Resources

e-Learning PlatformsNowadays, both teachers and parents have had to come up with creative ways to get children motivated to learn and feel at ease with it. There are several learning games for 6-year-olds, but also people of all ages, along with an extensive list of resources to keep it fun and challenging. Here are our favorite free ones. BrainPOP If you are looking for a fun way to get your kid into learning math or social studies, you need to give this platform a try. BrainPOP also comes with lesson plans, teaching tips, and other resources that complement the use of the games available in it. Explorable Explanations For those of you that are or have teens and need to try a different way of learning chemistry or philosophy, this hub will be your best friend. You can find games and interactive graphics, as well as simulations, all bite-sized and fun. iCivics Created by a retired Supreme Court Justice in 2009, this platform offers you 21 games through which you can learn about topics like American government and history. If you are struggling with those history lessons or explaining to your children why certain news affects you so much, this platform is for you. Extra Credits If you find yourself a bit clueless regarding videogames, how they are created, and how you can use them as a learning tool, this YouTube channel fits like a glove. You can enjoy quite a few videos discussing the topic of game-based learning in the playlist they have created with the name of Games in Education. Keep in mind that we all have different learning paces and that kids will always be looking to play and have fun. Instead of trying to fight against this natural urge, use these resources to harness it and make it work in favor of learning and making quick progress. [...]

Creative Histology – Learning Through Gaming

Creative Histology – Learning Through Gaming

Creative ThinkingWhen we hear about learning through gaming, we think about games for 5-year-olds or teens, but the fun has no age limits. Histology is quite a challenging subject to learn, it is abstract and vast and yet so beautiful when you understand it, hence the University of Eastern Finland got creative. Putting the Fun in Finland The Finnish have been known for implementing alternative learning strategies for a while now and this time around it was the turn of dental and medical students. The professors wanted to see if their students made further progress and had more interest in the subject while using a gaming platform to learn histology. Since the students need to grasp and manage an incredibly intense amount of information within a limited period, they needed to make the most of it. Understanding that students are keener and more motivated to learn when technology such as webpages and apps that offer gamification of education, was crucial. The Strategy One of the main aspects of this experiment came down to giving the students the chance to view histology slides of human samples on their touchpads. They could zoom in and out and generally manage them at will and all the while the professor was explaining what they were looking at. Moreover, the platform that they used enabled the professor to send some trivia and quizzes to the students, who could answer in real-time from their smartphones. The result was that, although the curriculum was not changed nor lessened, students learned more using these methods than those that studied it traditionally. Alternative learning methods are slowly making their way into all levels of education. [...]

Contrasting Gaming-Based Against Traditional Resources

Creative Thinking / e-Learning PlatformsGamification of learning has long been a tool of teachers all over the world, from little competitive dances that enhance retentive capacities, to learning videogames. There are those that believe that learning through gaming should be limited to little kids online, and then those who believe that gamification is for everybody. What is the Truth? The truth is that, while some people learn through the traditional methods just fine, you might be having a hard time learning a certain subject and games help there. While traditional resources for learning involve certain things like reading and evaluations, gaming can provide you with the same knowledge minus those things. Several studies have found that people are more inclined to learn and have an easier time doing so when they use resources that appeal to their ludic side. Truth be told, there is simply no way you go through any game without learning and developing skills like creative thinking, problem-solving, and many more. Are There Disadvantages? Everything in moderation applies to gaming as well because you need to have a good schedule to make it one more activity that is part of a healthy living routine. The disadvantages of learning through gaming, as opposed to learning through traditional resources lie in the way you use it. Traditional resources give you a tighter structure that works for some people, but such a rigid way of learning comes with obstacles that you cannot change. All the disadvantages of learning through gaming can be overcome with discipline and those of traditional resources will be handled by turning to game as a tool. Both gaming-based and traditional resources for learning have their advantages and disadvantages, but you can always combine them and have the best of both worlds. Although traditional resources have been around for a long time, gaming is here to stay and so is learning through it. [...]

What is the Role of e-Learning Platforms during this Crisis?

What is the Role of e-Learning Platforms during this Crisis?

e-Learning PlatformsThe pandemic that has changed everybody’s lives around the globe has had a particular impact on the way we all educate ourselves and our children. One of the most useful resources that you can use to get through this crisis is an online learning platform, as you can use it while you stay at home. Overcoming Obstacles We are faced with the challenge of finding ways to stick to a learning program and have some structure in what we learn, given that just reading around is far from enough. E-learning platforms are proving to be a valuable tool to get this structure already set up by people that know what they are doing. You can get evaluations, just like you would at a classroom, you can get different activities and homework, along with the resources that you need to enhance your knowledge. Moreover, many platforms offer you the chance to interact digitally with teachers and experts in the fields that you are looking to study. Seizing the Day You are suddenly finding yourself with a lot of spare time at home and e-learning platforms provide you with a way to use that time productively. If you invest a few hours of your day in learning something new, any topic you choose, you will make it out of this crisis more prepared and knowledgeable. These e-learning platforms are playing a crucial role in helping you overcome the obstacles that are presented by being unable to go to a classroom. Moreover, you get the chance to make the most out of the extra spare time that you have by dedicating it to structured learning. [...]

Adapt and Improvise – How to Create and Improve Learning Platforms

Adapt and Improvise – How to Create and Improve Learning Platforms

Creative ThinkingAs learning platforms have become absolute lifesavers for parents, students, and teachers all over the world during this pandemic, they must be taken seriously. Although there are many platforms already available, there are a few things that should be kept in mind when you want to create or improve one. Include This is a big deal right now and perhaps one of the most important fields to include everybody in education. You need to have learning platforms that appeal and work for people with special needs, without even mentioning those that are neuroatypical. A great example of this is making it possible to enlarge letters for those that have dyslexia, or using symbols together with colors, for color blind people. Other things you can do is include commands by voice for blind or paralyzed people, along with more visuals for individuals. Gamify We are big on gaming-based learning because it simply works, it helps students overcome obstacles presented by traditional methods and it makes the process much more fun. Increasing productivity and enhancing brain development are just a few of the many advantages that come with the gamification of learning platforms for people of all ages. Simplify Keep in mind that not everybody is tech-savvy – make the interface simple and intuitive to encompass a larger amount of students that can use it effectively to learn. These are just a few suggestions that we have found are necessary to adapt and improvise, when it comes to improving learning platforms that are key in today’s world. [...]

Taking Design Courses to Enhance Brain Development

Taking Design Courses to Enhance Brain Development

Creative ThinkingLearn how taking design courses contribute to enhancing brain development for people of all ages, regardless of natural inclinations. One of the main worries that parents have with their child is brain development and most of us worry about how to push it forward and enhance it. Although there are many ways to go about this, from listening to Mozart while pregnant to playing a musical instrument, taking a design course is one of the best brain developers. Creative Thinking Stimulated If you want to have excellent problem-solving skills, be able to get creative with new ways around old issues, and generally think out of the box, design courses will help. Creativity can and should be cultivated to help your brain develop in unique ways, with this skill that they can use in every aspect of their lives. Varied Learning Environment Design is hardly an isolated subject and you will find it surrounded by arts and things like architecture, which all expose your child to a myriad of subjects. Take advantage of everybody’s natural tendency to learn from peers and set yourself up to be exposed to a wide range of topics from fashion to anti-seismic structures. Questioning as a Habit One of the habits you want to keep is a natural curiosity and drive to ask why and how. Since the focus of a design course is creative thinking, your pre-conceived notions are challenged quite often. You get used to finding out why things are the way they are and how you can turn them around to be something new, something that fits you more. A design course enhances your brain development by making you question everything, stimulating your creative thinking, and submerging you in a varied learning environment. [...]

Scholastic as a Life Saver for Homeschooling Parents

Scholastic as a Life Saver for Homeschooling Parents

Creative Thinking / e-Learning PlatformsExtraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and Scholastic´s online learning platform is a clear example of it. The schoolbook editor and publisher has gone out of its way to make sure that everybody has access to resources that help parents educate their kids at home. Your Best Friend Scholastic has made available about nine different games on their website to cover some subjects that kids might find a bit challenging to learn. Some of those subjects include word roots and even women´s rights, all gamified to help the kids be interested and motivated to learn without getting bored. But this platform has much more than just a few games, as you get a wide range of teacher resources to use with your kids at home. Planning out what you are going to cover is no longer an issue with the unit plans and lesson plans that you find in the Scholastic platform. Setting up Homework If you are all out of ideas for activities your child can do either to keep them busy or to complement whatever homework they are sent, you can find lots of ideas on this platform. You get a few computer lab activities to get your children used to specific tasks and some interactive whiteboard activities to mimic what they would do in a classroom. Scholastic as a learning platform has become a lifesaver for all homeschooling parents with its wide range of teachers’ resources and games the kids can play while learning. Setting up activities will no longer be an issue either, as this platform gives you both ideas for activities and already designed activities that you can use with the little ones. [...]

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