Week 7

Week seven introduced us to the use of video games and "simulations" in the classroom as ways to engage students.  I remember in elementary school playing "where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" and "Oregon Trail" during computer lab time for social studies.  Computer games have come a LONG way since those days, and many educational games exist to teach students in nearly every subject.
Simulations are role-playing type games played out in the classroom which have students play-act certain roles.  This is typically used in social studies or history classes to help students get into the mindset that people may have been in during different points in history.

We also discussed the Dana foundations' extensive database regarding the brain and neurology.  Out of this vast resource I found an interesting web-cast about how our brain interprets taste and smell.  The chemistry, biology, and neurology behind it is fascinating!  (I also may have finally found an excuse based in science for not eating my green vegetables!)

For our comprehensive assignment I was asked to choose a web2.0 tool to use in the classroom.  As I am not teaching I will discuss a tool that I will be using when I start teaching this year (or at least I hope to use).  My school uses edmodo and I hope I will have the opportunity to utilize this resource to post calendars, assignments, and keep in contact with my students.  I love the fact that it is so similar to a social networking website and I look forward to using it to help keep organized.

Some issues I know I will face with using it is finding the time to post to it and review things I place on it.  Not to mention simply becoming familiar with it's interface and formatting since I have never used it before.

Something I have used a little bit and I am sure I will use again will be the teachertube and youtube for education. I know these are not necessarily web2.0 "tools" but they are great resources to find videos on to use for class.  There are many interesting, and attention grabbing videos which will cover material I'll need to cover in my classes!