I love to play games and incorporate different learning sytles into the games. I get much interaction and participation, and when it comes to retention, it's great. My students find that they remember the anwers once they have had it in the form of a question in one of my many games we play. It just sticks with them and if they are having a hard time on a test, they think back to the game and they remember, because it stuck out to them.
The students in my program are very competitive and love to compete against each other for the highest test scores/grades etc.
The one thing that I did notice when playing games is that not all students are engaged and some are often too shy/embrassed to participate.
As instructors, we must encourage or demand that every student participate for the full benefit.
I have always used games as a way to reveiw material, but never to introduce new material. This activity was very informative.
I have played a Jepordy test review game in the past. The students love it and they love the friendly competion.
It really depends on the activity and the reward of the activity.
I always thought adult students would think activities for terminology would be too "juvenile." But now that I've added fun games like "Memory (as suggested in this course,)" "Jeopardy," and "Hangman" to lectures, I've found they actually engage the students more and they retain the information even better! It also makes teaching more fun adn interesting for me.
For the most part I have great feedback, the only resistance I occasionally encouter is from an older learner.
Gale, getting the students curious and excited about coming to class is quite a gift. Keep up your good work!
Thank you for the game suggestions!!!
I like to vary the learning experiences that my students receive. I hear them talking after class with comments like; "Can't wait for class tomorrow just to see what Dr. G. has up her other sleeve." I simply love it!!
I find that it keeps the subject interesting and also they retain the information
They really get into the learning activity. They also start working as a team and will help each other out sometimes even if on different teams. I like to point it out during the activity. Most learners have liked it, they have said it breaks up the day to day lectures.
The responses of the students have been very good. The students are eager to learn new subject material when an activity is presented to the class.
Your evaluations will reflect the learners satisfaction.
that helps to get their involvement and they enjoy learning
I find the question relay and the baseball game really engage the students. I think its the combination of them competing against each other and the fact that they get up and move; it really keeps them focused and most really enjoying participating.
Most of the time my students are completely engaged when we're doing any sort of active learning. There are always 1 or 2 who appear uncomfortable at first (especially first or second term students)but as time goes on, even they join in and have fun with it. I have found it to be a very effective teaching tool!
Activity is the key to engagement.
My students have enjoyed being active. They seem to like challenging each other and have earned higher test grades when a test is given after an activity.
They must compete pretty hard for 10 points!
They respond well, they are given worksheets and case reports that they have to interupt and give me the correct meaning for the medicl terminology that I have used in each. The one who get this done 100% correctly gets 10 extra credit points.
