Sharon Willis

Gaming can be used as an effective evaluation of student knowledge and understanding of material. Modifications can be easy to make to help with learning experience if needed. 

Games must be collaborative and easy for the learner to learn and interact with. Games must continue to capture the learner so they do not become bored or exit out. 

I found it interesting that the online forum meets the needs of a variety of different students and the implementation of gaming can create the social environment and interactions that is sometimes missed in the online environment. It allows opportunity for students to develop trust with instructor and other students and opens up interaction in a safe and low risk environment. 

I feel that starting to implement gaming into your very packed day of learning seems over whelming. I am in agreement that gaming and simulation are very valuable tools to engage learners in any environment. With limited prep time to develop and implement these activities it seems. I agree that poorly designed games and simulations may be boring and repetitious limited success in helping learners develop knowledge and skills. What would be the best way to start that would not overwhelm an instructor that may not have super technology skills?

Gamification is a way to engage and involve students to perform at the highest level. It can be set up so the student is working towards their best potential and may also be used to help promote teamwork and collaboration skills. 

Helping the learner organize their thoughts by using clear defined instructions for each assignment or assessment is key to successful outcomes. Using rubrics is very helpful to help the learner navigate an assignment or assessment in an organized and constructive manner.

In this session it was discussed the importance of making sure students understand the importance of an assignment. Helping students see the relevance of assignments to the learning objective and overall mastery of the topics helps them relate and take ownership of their learning. 

In this module I was able to review the syllabus and determine how it lists the components of the course and guides the students through the course. The syllabus very important for clear understanding and navigation of the course. The syllabus is an essential part of the course offering valuable information.

The use of guest speakers to engage students and give them an outside real- world perspective is an area I would like to look consider for distant learners.  Discussion are a great way to get students thinking about topics and start to use critical thinking. Encouraging students to engage in discussions is a good way to help students. reflect and opens up opportunities for expanded learning.  

The importance of easy navigation so the learner does not become frustrated or waste time with the navigation of the course instead of learning. The other essential component of online learning is interaction. It is important to engage the learner and keep the learner interested and focused on the learning objectives. This can be accomplished using different forms of interactive learning activities such as videos, discussions, interactive exercises that engage the learning and help with retention of information and concepts.