Digital Blog Post #E

For chapter 7, I decided to cover Computer Games and Learning Resources, Digital Games for Learning, and Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Technology.
Nothing speaks to a teenager, or any student really, on an educational level better than interactive learning and games! I remember being in school always anticipating the days we had the tech cart because of all the games that my teachers allowed us to play. There are literally a countless number of computer games available that range from action, to adventure, to knowledge games, and literally everything in between! The book mentions how everyone's first thought when hearing "computer games" is video games which isn't always the case. But where some people have reactions like me where they like the application of gaming in the classroom, others believe they hinder children's learning possibilities; while in some situations that's true, but certainly not all.
Digital games for learning (serious games)- are specifically designed to have an educational background to help the student learn whatever topic is being covered. I know I said this in a previous post, but children now are pumped with so much visual stimulus on a daily basis, that it is almost impossible to compete without using the same form of stimulus: technology. There are two categories, Internet (browser based games) and Desktop based games. Internet based games are usually free while desktop based games are "commercial products" that have to be purchased in order to be used. There is also simulation games which have been increasing in popularity recently. They are games where the player gets to make the decisions in the game and the environment changes based on those decisions.
Problem based learning- activities around real life problems that interest and motivate students. Students are able to "investigate" problems, issues, and questions where there is no correct answer. The books gives some steps to problem solving:

• understanding the problem
• using problem solving strategies
• checking results. 

There is a segment in the books strictly dedicated to teaching problem solving with computers. It goes further on saying that real world problems are complex and quite complicated to solve, but those are the best learning experiences.
Overall I thought this chapter was interesting, especially the sections diving into the gaming. I will most likely use games to reach out to my future students, mostly because that is almost a sure-fire way to reach out to them.