It is All Fun and Games…And Then Students Learn
Here are the resources for my presentation at the SAME-TEC 2008 14th Annual Conference. These are focused on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math related subjects (STEM).
First is a web site called HA Games. This web site, which requires a login, has games focused on Algebra, Physics and the Periodic Table.
You can also check out games based on Nobel Prize winning research. These games cover the topics of physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, literature, peace and economics.
Here are some simple games to teach about energy conservation over at the Energy Hogs web site. These games might be too simplistic for older students. If that is the case, have them examine the games and see what improvement or changes they would make.
You can go to the EdHeads site and check out games focused on teaching about simple machines and crash scene forensics. The games are accompanied by teacher focused materials so you can incorporate them into the classroom (also a few medical focused games and one discussing the weather.)
Teaching basic math is a site called Academic Skill Builders. This site covers a number of basic skills such as math, verbs, addition, etc. 
If you teach biology, you might be interested in a site called Frog Guts where you can virtually dissect a frog.
Here is a first-person shooter game for teaching about algebra. The demo focused on graphing. Go to Tabula Digita’s web site and check out their game Dimenxian. I’ve written about this game before in my blog posting Learning Algebra in a Game.
To teach basic multiplication skills check out Timez Attack which I have written about before in my post Learning Multiplication Tables in a Game. Here is the web site where you can download the free demo.
Finally, you might want to check out Immune Attack to learn about the human immune system. You are shrunk to the size of a blood cell and propelled through a body to learn about how our immune system works.
Learn more about Games for Learning at the web site Gadgets, Games and Gizmos for Learning which discusses my book by the same name.
Check out Going to the MUVEES to See River City to learn about a game which involves many students working together to solve a science problem.
Here are some of the underlying reasons why we want students to “Play Games.”
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Catalog of Recommended Books, Games and Gadgets
Recommended Games and Gadgets
Recommended Books
Content Guide
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Hi,
Peter this side from Canada. This blog really have valuable information for everyone regarding game.
Thanks
Peter
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These resources provide new ways of looking at subject materials and address a variety of learning styles using methods that are highly appealing to 21st century learners. The biggest challenge is still getting educators and administrators to buy into exactly how and why these great educational online games should be integrated into the curriculum. The students are eager and on board. I'm afraid whether willingly or unwillingly many educators still have to pull up the rear. See my related comments in Clark Aldrich's Blog "What is the point of Education Anyway" https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=1006326731214910426&postID=5696943753869570666
It's like looking at a sea of Christmas presents under a tree. Without batteries to generate a response and detailed directions on exactly how to play some educators/administrators what to play but only see a stack of pretty boxes.
There is a need to integrate the game with the curriculum. One of the things that instructors will need to do is to engineer places in the games where we have the kids come back to “reality” and teach them to think about the metacognitive implications of what they are learning/experiencing.
Adding active reflection into the game play helps them to solidify their learning.
Also, the games need to be created correctly so they faciliate learning.