SIG3edgames

=__**Computer Applications/Keyboarding Games Used in the Classroom and at Home**__= Class, start playing games! How often do you hear that in a Computer Applications/Keyboarding class? With many of the games kids play centered around violence and sex it's not hard to understand why teachers might not immediately consider them as a tool for study. And yet games capture and hold students attention for hours, teach them thinking, planning, learning, listening, remembering, technical, and decision making skills! With a little planning and some good resources you can take a break from routine typing and handouts! Why not harness this natural enthusiasm in your lesson plans and provide reinforcement, remediation and fun for both the classroom and at home.

In this exciting underwater typing game your goal is to burst the bubbles before they reach the surface of the sea. Students learn speed and accuracy! || Get your fingers ready for the groove and type your favorite dancing moves. Fun characters will show off your skills. Find your favorite dance tune to play along. || Move over Mavis Beacon, it's the typing tutor with teeth! Zap sharks and piranha as you dive for sunken treasure! Improve your typing speed while having fun - suitable for all skill levels. || Speedy speller will have players spell spoken words as quickly and accurately as they can on a computer. When they are finished they will be able to check the spelling and move on to the next word. The game that covers the three basic issues of accuracy, speed and technique. ||
 * [[image:sig3edgames:bubbles_typing_game.png width="291" height="123" link="@http://www.typingtest.com/games/"]] || @http://www.typingtest.com/games/
 * Bubbles Typing Game**
 * [[image:sig3edgames:keyboard_revolution.png link="@http://www.freetypinggame.net/play.asp"]] || @http://www.freetypinggame.net/play.asp
 * Keyboard Revolution**
 * [[image:sig3edgames:typer_shark.png width="288" height="201" link="@http://games.yahoo.com/game/typer-shark"]] || @http://games.yahoo.com/game/typer-shark
 * Typer Shark**
 * [[image:sig3edgames:speedy_speller.png width="290" height="232" link="@http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html"]] || @http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html
 * Speedy Speller**.

__**Examples of Computer Applications Games**__:
Expose students to the vocabulary and symbols used in Microsoft Excel by playing a familiar game of hangman! The more exposure students have to words and phrases the more likely it is that they will be able to define, comprehend and remember! || Play a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" style game while reviewing the lessons learned about what hardware/software is and "win" a million dollars and greater understanding. || Learn and review the concepts taught in beginning Microsoft Word chapters while sinking your opponents battleship! || Just add your questions and play this Jeopardy-style game as either a class or with individual learners. ||
 * [[image:sig3edgames:Excel_Spreadheet_Hangman.png width="292" height="194" link="http://www.quia.com/hm/174125.html"]] || @http://www.quia.com/hm/174125.html
 * Excel Spreadsheet Hangman.**
 * [[image:sig3edgames:hardware_software.png width="292" height="277" link="@http://www.quia.com//rr/85220.html"]] || @http://www.quia.com//rr/85220.html
 * Hardware/Software Rags to Riches**.
 * [[image:sig3edgames:wordbattleship.png width="284" height="276" link="@http://quia.com/ba/90182.html"]] || @http://quia.com/ba/90182.html
 * Microsoft Word Battleship**
 * [[image:sig3edgames:powerpointgame.png width="282" height="219" link="@http://people.uncw.edu/ertzbergerj/ppt_games.html"]] || @http://people.uncw.edu/ertzbergerj/ppt_games.html
 * PowerPoint Jeopardy!**

__**Examples of Computer Applications/Keyboarding Lesson Plans**__:

 * Keyboarding Research & Resources** - http://keyboarding.wordpress.com
 * Includes research, results, and lesson plan ideas plus links to other sources.
 * High School Keyboarding Activities** - @http://www.ehow.com/lost_5891378_high-school-keyboarding-activities.html
 * Includes ideas for fun activities that include typing skills
 * EdGames** - @http://people.uncw.edu/ertzbergerj/msgames.html
 * Includes templates for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel games to use and or modify for the classroom

__**Research and Scholarly Articles**__:
Edwards, Cliff (2011). Bloomberg Business Week. //Class Take Out Your Games//. February 20, 2006. @http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/06_08/b3972100.htm?chan=gl This article discusses "how teachers are using computer games to pique the interest of tech-savvy kids." Students and parents interviewed indicated that the classes using the computer games were the best of the day and have made some courses more inclusive, piqued student interest and made learning engaging. According to one of the teachers "you have to either get on board or get out of the way." It relates to our SIG by showing why teachers should want to use games in the classroom.
 * **Class, Take Out Your Games****

Contributors (2011). Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Educational Software. April 15, 2011. @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_software This entry in the encyclopedia defines educational software as computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self-learning. The history of computer games from 1940 to present times is reviewed and different aspects of computer software is explained from course ware to edutainment. It relates to our SIG by helping define the vocabulary and scope of what is Educational Software and games.
 * **Educational Software****

**The Importance of Games in Learning** Summerfield, Brian(2009). Certification Magazine - InfoZone. //The Importance of Games in Learning//. November 30, 2006. @http://www.certmag.com/email.php?in=2491 This article discusses why games are an engaging and fun way to transmit information and why vendors need to consider that "more, younger professionals are beginning to expect and even demand these kinds of training experiences." Teachers, students and developers are encouraged to look at the positive aspects of using games to gain knowledge. It relates to our SIG by showing what features are included in games and why they should be used.

**Harnessing the Power of Video Games for Learning** Federation of American Scientists (2011). National Summit on Educational Games. //Harnessing the Power of Video Games for Learning.// October 17, 2006. @http://www.fas.org/programs/ltp/policy_and_publications/summit/index.html This action plan was created by more than 100 experts who met to examine how to harness the power of video games for learning. Participants included executives from the video gaming industry and educational software publishers, researchers and experts on technology and pedagogy, game developers, representatives of user communities such as teacher and the U.S. military, R&D funders, and government policy makers. The Summit focuses on four issues: video game features useful for learning and aspects of learning that could be supported by video games, research needed to support the effective use of games for education and training, market barriers, and changes in schools that might be needed to take advantage of educational games. It relates to our SIG by showing the usefulness of games and what the plan for future use can and should be.

**Games and Simulations** Partin, Ronald (2009). The Classroom Teacher's Survival Guide. //Games and Simulations (Page 228-230)//. August 17, 2009. @http://books.google.com/books?id=-RjX3sz4BBUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0 This book offers a value-packed, practical source of ready-to-use tips and strategies for meeting the challenges teachers face everyday while organizing and managing a classroom.The section on using Games gives advice for using games that require intellectual skill rather than chance, have connections to the real world applications and emphasize team work. It relates to our SIG by providing checklists of what to look for in a good educational game and ideas for adapting games to your particular lesson plan.

**The Importance of Daily Typing Practice** Cotton, Burt (2010). Article Dashboard. //The Importance of Daily Typing Practice.// No Date Given @http://www.articledashboard.com/article.php?id=83385&act=print This article emphasizes the importance of typing skills as an important step to ensuring a student's future success. The benefits of daily practice in any skill is shown and the use of games with interactive cartoon tutors, rewards based on levels, and lots of audio to keep children focused is encouraged. It relates to our SIG by giving examples of how students are actually “working” at a new skill while playing these games and having fun at the same time.

**Typing Games for Kids** Look, Marie (2011). eHow. //Typing Games for Kids.// No Date Given. @http://www.ehow.com/about_4778491_typing-games-kids.html This article point out that sutdents who practice typing and other keyboarding skills from an early age are quickly put at a significant advantantage over those who do not. The types of games available online and software packages are covered. It relates to our SIG becuase of the research about games beig better learning motivators to children who do not respond well to more traditional, standardized typing lessons

**Typing Games Increase Coordination and Open Doors**  (2011) Math and Reading Help. //Typing Games Increase Coordination and Open Doors.// April 2011.  @http://math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/articles/Typing_Games_Increase_Coordination_and_Open_Doors.html  This article discusses how increasing typing skills by using games will increase coordination, will build confidence, save time in the future and keep student's busy! It relates to our SIG by giving reasons why typing games are valuable.