1) Begin the lesson with a spreadsheet for each student. Each sheet will have the empty spaces that match up a bowling score sheet. Then I will show the students on the board how to calculate their scores.
-# of pins.
-Two balls per turn.
-Strikes.
-Spares.
-10th frame.
After a short lecture, I will ask them a few questions to check for understanding.
-What do you think is the highest score possible?
-The lowest?
-What happens if you get multiple strikes in a row?
-Multiple spares?
-How many balls do you get on the 10th frame?
2) Bowl!!!
3) Check the calculations, then post their scores :)
To demo this lesson, I worked with Jacob, Taylor, and Jacquee. We copied our data into excel and then interpreted different graphs from their. I would use excel if in an environment that had computers, and was a high school setting. Otherwise I think this activity would work best with middle school age students and paper score sheets. You could even convert it to a P.E. setting by using real bowling pins in the gym. Collecting their own data will give them a real connection to the numbers instead of just trying to do countless math practice problems with no real world context. This would be a great way to make math fun!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Platformer Games
Platformer games such as Donkey Kong are named for the platforms that the characters have to jump on throughout the game. They require the gamer to use quick thinking and reflexes. Platformer games tend to be quite tough to complete, and you may have to do levels multiple times before you level up. This helps students with repetition and will teach them to learn from their mistakes. If they keep making the same mistake, they will never pass the level. Overall they are a fun way to mentally engage students and teach them life skills (such as learning from your mistakes). Platformer games may be thought of as relics from a long lost childhood, but they still exist in ever growing forms. While searching the App store, I found many free Platformer games. My current favorite is Super Bird, which is in a jungle setting. Technology is ever-changing, and with that the game world grows as well. The arcade is no longer a place, but a device that travels around with you everywhere you go. Touch devices have changed games, though these standard Platformer games have yet to disappear.
Assistive Technology
There are three different kinds of technology used in these videos. One for a girl with Cerebral Palsy, another for a boy who was visually impaired, and the last for a high school boy who did not have good use of his arms and legs.
The girl, Elle, used a Dynavox. This machine uses a censor on her forehead to connect to an electronic screen. It works similarly to a Wii remote and the T.V. sensor. She could then look at pictures and put together sentences by selecting multiple pictures. It does take some time, but it is amazing to have a form of communication for people who have not had that chance before. They can show that they are intelligent, and they can participate in class activities and school. This technology helps show that even severe physical disorders do not imply that the person is also mentally incapable. The Dynavox helps even the playing field of learning.
In the second video, Mason used a braille typewriter. Mason a six year old boy who has blindness in one eye, and severely lowered vision in the other. He can see large print, but braille is something that will serve him better in the future. His typewriter has a button per finger, and different combinations make certain letters. When he types a letter, the typewriter says the letter back to him so he knows what he typed. This allows Mason to take notes and do writing assignments along with the class. He also enjoys using the SmartBoard, which has large enough font that he can participate in interactive lessons through this device. His favorite at home learning tool is the iPad, which also has a large font in a variety of applications that will help teach him how to read and spell.
The last video features a high school student named Lukas. Lukas is in marching band, concert band, and jazz band. Lukas also has a physical disorder that has left him with limbs that do not function properly. He does not have the strength to push in the pegs of a normal instrument, so one has been modified for him with a joystick that attaches to his wheelchair. The joystick controls which notes he plays, while he blows into the instrument. Unfortunately, this instrument was stolen from him. The community then decided to gather together, and they raised another $4,000 dollars to modify a new instrument for Lukas so he could keep doing what he loves. Lukas wants to become a musician. New technology such as this is allowing physically impaired students to reach new heights and chase their dreams.
The girl, Elle, used a Dynavox. This machine uses a censor on her forehead to connect to an electronic screen. It works similarly to a Wii remote and the T.V. sensor. She could then look at pictures and put together sentences by selecting multiple pictures. It does take some time, but it is amazing to have a form of communication for people who have not had that chance before. They can show that they are intelligent, and they can participate in class activities and school. This technology helps show that even severe physical disorders do not imply that the person is also mentally incapable. The Dynavox helps even the playing field of learning.
In the second video, Mason used a braille typewriter. Mason a six year old boy who has blindness in one eye, and severely lowered vision in the other. He can see large print, but braille is something that will serve him better in the future. His typewriter has a button per finger, and different combinations make certain letters. When he types a letter, the typewriter says the letter back to him so he knows what he typed. This allows Mason to take notes and do writing assignments along with the class. He also enjoys using the SmartBoard, which has large enough font that he can participate in interactive lessons through this device. His favorite at home learning tool is the iPad, which also has a large font in a variety of applications that will help teach him how to read and spell.
The last video features a high school student named Lukas. Lukas is in marching band, concert band, and jazz band. Lukas also has a physical disorder that has left him with limbs that do not function properly. He does not have the strength to push in the pegs of a normal instrument, so one has been modified for him with a joystick that attaches to his wheelchair. The joystick controls which notes he plays, while he blows into the instrument. Unfortunately, this instrument was stolen from him. The community then decided to gather together, and they raised another $4,000 dollars to modify a new instrument for Lukas so he could keep doing what he loves. Lukas wants to become a musician. New technology such as this is allowing physically impaired students to reach new heights and chase their dreams.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Bowling with Spreadsheets
Our group tested whether or not Wii Bowling is random, or whether it takes some skill to win. We had four players and split into two groups, the control which bowled normally and the handicap group which bowled backwards. We then played one round of bowling and recorded how many pins we knocked down for the first roll each round.
Hypothesis: The control group will perform better than the group with a self-inflicted handicap.
Our Test:
-Control: normal bowling
-Test Group: backwards bowling
The control group did perform better on average and per person than the test group. The test group frequently "dropped" the ball because it is difficult to swing backwards. Their overall improvement throughout the game was much greater than the control group though, showing that the game is not just random and that it can be learned and therefore improved upon.
Hypothesis: The control group will perform better than the group with a self-inflicted handicap.
Our Test:
-Control: normal bowling
-Test Group: backwards bowling
The control group did perform better on average and per person than the test group. The test group frequently "dropped" the ball because it is difficult to swing backwards. Their overall improvement throughout the game was much greater than the control group though, showing that the game is not just random and that it can be learned and therefore improved upon.
Controller Free Gaming
The Xbox Kinect and Nintendo Wii have created new gaming environments that didn't previously exist with controllers. You stand in front of the TV and the game has a sensor that will pick up you and your body movements. As they exist right now, these games are not super precise at picking up your subtle movements. With further development though, they may become attuned to every little movement, and know which ones to pick up. This could be used to teach motor skills that students have not yet acquired, or to promote friendship and teamwork.
The touch screen devices such as the ipad provide a different learning experience as well. You can interact with books, use your finger to solve complex math, practice flash cards, or even take notes while recording a lecture. These devices have combined a number of previous devices such as the calculator and tape recorder, and made them into something that is compact and has more uses than one device has ever had alone.
The touch screen devices such as the ipad provide a different learning experience as well. You can interact with books, use your finger to solve complex math, practice flash cards, or even take notes while recording a lecture. These devices have combined a number of previous devices such as the calculator and tape recorder, and made them into something that is compact and has more uses than one device has ever had alone.
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