Hangaroo
I am not a big game fan so my experience is very limited. I have tried a few before including jeopardy and hangaroo. The experience with hangaroo was rather rewarding as I used to play that game before but not in digital format. As a teacher of literacy, I was able to use this game to build my students’ vocabulary and force them to think. The fact that they would suffer from the hangman noose if they fail to figure out a word, drove them to do well. I too enjoyed playing this game as I was exposed to terms I was seeing for the first time; hence building my vocabulary too. I also set out to prove a point as the main character in the game; a kangaroo hurled insults at me whenever I lost.
Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
jenaca 7:20 am on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hey Everton,
I have used Jeopardy in my classroom and the students love it! When I was student teaching, I would create a jeopardy page then alter it depending on what lesson was going to be used. I would use the SMART board to display the game and the students loved being chosen to answer the question, interacting with the board!
Everton Walker 9:56 am on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
How effective was this game in your class? Did you use it for a specific subject area? I actually used it for comprehension classes and did it with competing teams. My students were serious competitors and therefore they made the process intense and interactive. I even designed a teacher-made jeopardy too.
Everton
themusicwoman 12:32 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Dear Everton,
I think having a kangaroo hurl insults at me would be kinda fun 🙂 Would be even better if it could hurl Shakespearean insults. Now there’s something kinda geeky for you. Interesting response from a person who professes to be a non-gamer. As well, I have used Jeopardy before in my classes. I love it and for some reason, the students seem to think that it isn’t “work” although the amount of review we get done in a couple of games is the equivalent of a whole unit of terms or concepts.
ifeoma 3:21 pm on October 5, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
It sure sounds like you had fun playing Hangaroo I guess the hangman’s noose and the Kangaroo are the two major controls you have in the game, probably why it called Hangaroo 🙂 Evidently, these did the job well enough in getting not just the students but you to learn new words. I do not know this game but it sure sounds like scrabble of sorts to me.
Keisha Edwards-Hamilton 7:38 am on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Everton,
I have used Jeopardy in my class and it was fun for the students. It kept them alive, interested and motivated. Sometimes a little fun is just what students need to be re-inspired, and games can be an excellent way to learn, practice, and review a lesson’s content in interesting and creative ways.
Keisha
Everton Walker 2:22 pm on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
It’s really fun and a vocabulary and general knowledge builder. A great way to avoid conventional vocabulary strategies.
hall 1:17 am on October 9, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Everton,
I can recall our teachers using hangaroo with as children in primary and high school but I have never used it as a teacher. It is an exciting game; one sparkle interest in students. I have used jeopardy with my students which they like very much.