Online Game

Today we were challenged to create an online game to help students learn or engage with learning content.

Online games can help to develop teamwork, concentration, communication, higher order thinking and problem-solving skills.

Reading the article "Game Based Learning - Best Practices" I learned important factors to consider when creating an online game. Based on the information I received reading the article I wanted to create a game that:

• can be applied universally;

• can be customized based on difficulty level;

• includes space for reflection;

• offers a level up experience or other ways to show progress;

• offers enough time to practice;

• should last no longer than 10 minutes.

The original idea was to create an online snakes and ladders game which students can play individually, against peers or as a class split in groups. The group work could encourage peer support. The topic would be fractions and students could get to explore them through word problems, visual representations of fractions, fraction addition and multiplication and fraction reading tasks.

While we were able to find a program that is similar to a snakes and ladders game, it did not allow us to add graphics and enough space to write whole word problems.

Thus we chose a different program and were able to create a fraction game for 7-8 year old students. It includes small fun breaks that keep students engaged and motivated (similar to candy crush). The game allows children to explore fractions as described above (except visual representations of fractions).

I hope I will be able to gain more experience, exploring online game programs.

This is the link to our online game:

https://www.wisc-online.com/users/juliafr%c3%b6hlich/games/193030/fraction-action