Student Post: Ashley Bond - Games in the Classroom

 When teachers allow students to use games as a way to assess student learning they open the door to the many possibilities that students have the ability to share what they know. It fosters a calming environment in the classroom and provides students with the opportunity to be creative. 

This approach allows students to work individually, in pairs or in groups. When I was in school, I remember games to be my favorite activity to do. I would get a sense of excitement when the teacher told us what we were going to do for the game. 

I remember one time we played math bingo. We had the option to get in a group of three, four, or pairs. On our bingo board, we would create addition or subtraction problems where their answers would be 1-12. We would strategically place them in hopes to get bingo. Once the group finished creating their boards, each player would roll the die to make it fair. Whatever the number was from the dice, we could cross off the corresponding square. 

We would have to think quickly. We would have to use critical thinking and problem solving while we were playing. It can show that there are many ways to go about playing, especially when you are playing in a group. One member might see a problem one way, whereas another can have a different viewpoint on a solution. 

After the game is over, the teacher could ask the students what they learned from the game and how they think their choices affected their abilities to win. Teachers could ask what the students would do differently or the same if they were to play again. Using games as a tool allows group discussions and makes the learning experience more memorable for the students.