Chess, Monopoly and Chinese Checker
I think the playing of games is a very good activity. I have being playing games as far I can remember, both board and electronic games. I remembered playing an electronic car game as a teenager which has helped in driving skills, decision making and avoiding collisions. Since recently, I have being playing three electronic games; chess, monopoly and Chinese checkers which I found to be helpful after especially a stressful day. Sometimes, I play these games with my wife especially Chinese checkers. This I found to build communication and amiable competition, thus a better relationship.
As a mathematics and physics lecturer, I encourage my students to play chess, Chinese checkers and other games which develop problem solving techniques. Since my students have started playing certain games, I have seen improvement in their reasoning ability. As result of the positive effects of games, I have encouraged my student-teachers to start using games as a part teaching activities on teaching practice. In addition, I have directed them to online games that will enable them to teach concepts such as kinematics and electricity.
I think electronics games are very good tools in:
• developing amiable competition among students;
• providing real life experience; • developing problem solving skills;
• developing patience; • developing the ability to follow instructs;
• developing logical thinking; • providing relaxation;
• developing numeracy and literacy;
• developing computer skills.
Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
Chess, Monopoly and Chinese Checker | ETEC 522 | Chess IQ 7:24 am on October 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
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jarvise 9:37 am on October 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You make some really great points, Conroy. As a math teacher, the ultimate skill needed by students is perseverence. How often do I have a student who can’t solve a problem quickly, gets frustrated and does not want to continue trying. Being able to work at something with no quick, obvious solution is one of the foundations of mathematics. Great post!
Emily
Keisha Edwards-Hamilton 7:24 am on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Conroy,
Games are great. Using activities and games in class encourages active learning, as well as collaboration, and interactivity. Games help and encourage learners to sustain their interest and work. These also provide intense and meaningful practice and also promotes life long learning. For example, a student will always remember a skill that was taught while playing a game embedded in a lesson at school.
Keisha
Everton Walker 10:39 am on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Conroy,
Good work man! Games really have the power to move us and keep us thinking. It was just yesterday I told my year two practicing teachers to explore the power of games in the classroom when they go out in a few weeks’ time. I have even encouraged them to play games too as I am noticing that they tend to ignore instructions on the blog and during exams. A game is all about following instructions and executing so I hope they will adopt that procedure.
Doug Smith 5:37 pm on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Conray, that’s really interesting that you have seen a correaltion between gaming and performance in your courses. Perhaps it helps the students to move away from “plug and chug” questions, or move away from decoding questions to really trying to understand them.
Tamara Wong 6:06 pm on October 7, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Great points! This explains my consistently bad scores between chess and math. I’m glad you mentioned how games help even with your relationship and stress levels. I imagine things like that might also transfer to our students.
Tamara
hall 7:08 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
You are welcome. I am glad that I was some help to you. I really think that the playing of games is a very useful problem solving tool.
Deb Kim 6:16 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Although I’m a secondary Math teacher, I’ve never played Chess or Chinese checkers.
I know that It requires some (mathematical) strategies and males are usually better at these kinds of games. I haven’t seen any of my femal friends play Chess or Chinese checkers.
Come to think of it, whenever I give my Tech Immersion students free time, I always see boys playing online games and girls watching YouTube music videos or working on their homework. I wonder if playing games has something to do with a differnece between sexes.
Deb
hall 7:13 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Deb,
That is a very good observation. You have caused me to become more alert in observing males and females attitudes towards the playing of games. Maybe that can explain why males normally perform better than females in mathematics and science.