Stage 2-2: Analysis of Puzzle, Quiz, and Sports Games

W505 Fames as Learning Tools

Week 5

Stage 2-2 Analysis of Puzzle, Quiz, and Sports Games

Title:  Puzzle (BLOXORZ) vs. Quiz (Sheppard’s Geography Map)

Puzzle game:

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/games/bloxorz

Quiz Map quiz:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm

Learners’ Style: 

1)

Based on Kolb’s learning styles I am an Active Experimentation style learner.  I also had a few that fell under the Abstract Conceptualization style too.  Those two AE and AC had my highest scores.  To be honest I never really trust these quizzes.  The reason why I do not totally depend on these forms of inventory is because students change.  Depending on a students’ age, exposure, stresses in life, material being studied each type AE, RO, CE, and AC style could describe the student.  As I went through the activity I found myself wondering and debating which one to choose because I kept thinking about different activities and how each activity would require different styles.

 2)

Based on Prensky’s list I am all over the place!  Looking at each question individually I could be at a one or a five depending on the question.  There was one, number four where I was in the middle.  I don’t believe it was because I cannot bounce around or I rather take step-by-step order.  I believe I chose 3 on number four because I can do both it just depends on the game and the situation I find myself in.  Now, I find myself agreeing 100% with number eight!  I chose 1 for number eight because I know how I am and I am very impatient!  I need to know immediately if something is working or not working.  I do believe that some of the question are very straightforward and for the most part will not change because it has to do with your personality.  Other questions could change depending on the mood of the student, the age of the student, and the situation the student finds them themselves.

3) 

Based on VAK learning styles I scored pretty evenly.  I had 12 A’s which represented the Visual learning style.  I had 7 B’s, which represented the Auditory learning style.  I had 11 C’s, which represented the Kinaestehetic learning style.  One thing stated in the article that I agreed with was, “some people fid that their learning style may be a blend of two or three styles,” (V Chislett MSc & A Chapman, 2005, P. 4).  I do believe that students do have many learning styles.  I also find myself as a teacher teaching one concept in more than one way.  I believe most teachers have been trained to teach to the student, which means the visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic student.  Every class has each of these learners.  I know for a fact that I always tend to begin my lessons with a visual, then I explain, and finally apply. 

Analysis of Games:

  1)   General information of two games:

The first game I played was BLOXORZ.  This game is a strategy game.  The player must take a block and flip it around until they can figure a way to make the block fall into a little opening.  Now this is all happening on a small platform where the block can easily fall if the player flips the block too many times or the wrong way!  If the player’s block falls off the player must start that level all over again.  There are 33 levels!  There are no clues or hints to help the player.  There are very informative instructions at the beginning or the game, but a player can skip these and just start playing the game.

The second game I played was Sheppard’s Geography Map quiz.  This game had the player labeling maps.  The player would pick the continent they wanted to work on.  Then the player could choose if they wanted just to locate where the countries would be on a continent, label the countries’ capitals, or label the countries’ landscapes.  The game provided hints, clues, and actual answers if the player was incorrect.  This game provided a speaker to interact with the player as well.

   2)   Comparison 1: Game Components

First my game components were activities in which players are actively involved physically and mentally.  Games should also challenge and entertain the players with positive competition.  Finally, games must have an element of chance, a common goal for the players, and rules. Game must create some form of an emotional reaction. 

BLOXORZ did hit these points!  It got me actively involved mentally, it challenged me, and entertained me with positive competition with myself.  I could easily see how a teacher could turn this into a competition between students.  Seeing which could do it in the least amount of moves or by highest points.  The game also allows for chance.  There is a common goal for all players, and it has rules.  Now the emotional reaction that it caused me was a little stress.  This type of a game is not my cup of tea!  I am competitive, so I continued through, but I had to take a break at times and come back to the game.  I found myself getting frustrated because I didn’t have any clues and it was an independent game!

Sheppard’s Geography Map Quiz also hit all the game components, but differently.  It actively involved the player mentally.  It challenged and entertained the player with positive competition.  Now there wasn’t a really opportunity for chance, besides the fact that they player could get it wrong.  The game did have a common goal and rules.  The emotional reaction for me this time was a more positive one.  I was able to get hints and clues.  The game interacted with me and “spoke” to me.  This game could easily become something to use in the classroom with all the students.  It could be used with the entire class playing together on the Smart board or independently on the computer.  This would be great as an opener to the lesson and a way to review for a test.

  3)   Comparison 2: Learners’ styles

The least-fit game, BLOXORZ would not fit my learning style for many reasons.  First, I am group learner.  This game is not one where team effort can really happen.  Also, there is no real communication occurring during the game.  It’s all in your mind as you try to figure out what will work.  It also does not work well with me because I like order and a step-by-step pattern.  This game is open to whatever step or pattern the player wants to take.  Finally, this game was the least-fit game for me because I didn’t know if what I was doing or the steps I was taking were correct until I got to the end (close to the opening)!  That was what sent me over board!

The best-fit game, Sheppard’s Geography Map Quiz fits my learning style because it can be done as a team or group.  It also fits my style of learning because it has order and pattern.  I also know immediately if my answer is right or wrong.  This is also a preferred game because it guided and interacted with me.

I still was able to enjoy both of these games (one more than the other) because they were both visual games and very kinaesthetic style too.  Using these two on the Smart Board would allow more movement and hands on feel too.  I also felt that both game catered to my AE style too.