juanma206 wrote:I don't think teaching kids to play a game for better English, and even if I would be hella happy if you added ~250 players into the game
It's actually a common way of teaching to use games in order to improve certain (cognitive) skills. If these goals aren't met, games can be used to achieve affective learning goals. If you want to know more about this topic I would like to refer you to this article:
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/famsci/fs1430.pdfmathwhiz9 wrote:those students
By 'those students', do you mean students who are interested in the game? And yes, it is very interesting but I feel it could be done.
juanma206 wrote:Plus, is would create a loophole in which a person playing in class can say "Well you told us to practice and I'm practicing" and get away with playing.
Students (of that age) need boundaries, so yes, you're right about it being some how dangerous. However, if teachers make clear rules about when Subterfuge is allowed to be played, not much could go wrong. In the school I teach at the moment, students are asked to leave their smartphone in a little box in the front of the classroom. At the end of class they get their phones back.
Furthermore, I am already using smartphones in class for different activities like kahoot.it or lyricstraining.com and it has never led to any problems.
juanma206 wrote:By the way good luck becoming a "teacher English" dunno what that is.. But good luck.
Thanks for pointing that out! 'teacher English' is a form of Dutchism and therefore a common mistake for Dutch people. In the Netherlands we talk about 'leraar Engels' and not about Engels leraar (English teacher), so I am not used to turning these two words around. Furthermore: as I said, I am still in training (for reasons like these)
and teachers make mistakes all the time!janitorialduties wrote:I think it could be a cool idea! I'd have to day the majority of the people I've met are either American or from the British Isles- But I have met some Russian, Japanese, Saudi, Napalese, Vietnemese, Canadian (super exotic, mega rare), and a Swede or two.
Maybe that could be a little bonus? Ask them to find out where their opponents are from? Could maybe drive a point of the inter-nationality of English. I'm only an American without a second language (I can pass by with a little spanish bu disregard it) But I imagine that might a bit exciting knowing that there are others in their same position?
Good luck to you- This could be a cool experience for them eh?
Thanks for the input Sir! I guess all sorts of assignments could be drawn up to make it more interesting, so that's a good idea for sure. Students are bored by writing hypothical letters and essays which aren't read by anyone except for their teacher, so getting actual responses will be the biggest change for them, as well as the fact that what they are saying has actual influence on the gameplay.
Questions remain:
- How can I moniter this?
- How should I assess them?
- How do I treat students who don't like games like these?