Range of new literacies

Gaming     
      I’ve always loved playing games, board games, video games and online games.  I like games that challenge me and I have a goal to meet at the end.  I feel the same way about educational games.  The educational games that hold my attention and my student’s attention are the educational games that are challenging.  The ones that are easy get boring very quick.  I play a variety of games on my iPad. I like to play a lot of strategy games and simulation games.  One of my favorite simulation games is Diner Dash.  I’ve played Diner Dash on the computer, Nintendo DS and now on my iPad.  The factors highlighted in the article and video is what keeps my interest in the game.
      The challenge in Diner Dash is to build up a variety of Diner from the bottom up into these most desirable restaurants in town.  Flo is one women shows that don’t have much money but opens a diner.  Each level is a set of new goals and more money to earn which enables you to enhance the diner.   Once you have met the goals of each diner you move on to a bigger and better diners until Flo opens up the last and final grand diner.   Each diner becomes bigger, with more costumers and a demanding shift.  Flo being a one women show has to do it all by herself.  Therefore, the challenge is to meet each customers needs and achieve your goals before time runs out.
     The graphics and whether or not as the game gets harder can I beat it is what draws me in.  I enjoy playing the game on the iPad because the graphics are very crisp and eye catching.  The game also entices my curiosity because I want to see how well I’m going to do once the game gets harder. At the end of the section the game lets you know if you met your goals or you need to repeat the board.  The game have text balloons within the round to let you know if you met a particular goal.  I’m not the type of person that gives up when something gets hard, I like a challenge so that what keeps me playing the game.  The audio is pretty fast paced and keeps you interested.
     Diner Dash gives you control over how you want to upgrade the diner.  You can personalize the diner to fit the type of person you are. In addition, you have the ability to buy the things Flo need to make the restaurant a success.  You can buy anything from new kitchen appliances to lighting, each item have a specialty that will allow the restaurant to run more efficiently. This type of control makes you really take ownership of the game and think of it as your own.
      In the end, its a fabricated scenario design. The storyline makes it interesting.  I like the idea of owning my own restaurant and building an empire from the bottom up.  At the end of the day that is what you are doing in this game.  It’s a fantasy that appeals to my intrinsic, cognitive and emotional fantasy being.  I really enjoy playing the game and building my empire.
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Lesson Plan

Grade:  3rd
Language Skill: writing

Language Focus: sequence connector (first second, third, next, finally)

Standards: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
 CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2c Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within categories of information.
Learning outcome(s): by the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Write 3 out of 5 steps involve in taking orders at a restaurant using correct sequence connector.

2. Name 5 out of 7 things that can be found in a restaurant.

Procedures


1. Teacher encourages students to talk about their experience when they dine-in at a restaurant.
2. Teacher asks students to name few things that can be found at a restaurant. 

3. Using the Smartboard teacher plays diner dash online game and demonstrates it to the students.

4. Teacher asks students to focus on the game and identify the steps in taking orders between the waiter and the customers.
5. Teacher then asks the students the steps in taking orders and list down the steps on the board.
6. Teacher emphasizes the use of sequence connector in the steps and explains on how to use each sequence connector for each sentence/step.
7.  Teacher asks few students to come in front to write the next step using sequence connector.
8. Teacher distributes a task sheet to each pupil.

9. Students need to complete the task sheet by writing the steps in taking orders correctly using the sequence connector provided.

10. Teacher facilitates and provides necessary guidance to the students.

11. Teacher discusses the answer with the students.
12. Teacher lets the students explore and play the game.
13. Teacher asks the students to take notes of the steps involved in completing the game.
14.  Teacher provides feedback after the playing session about the steps involved.
15. Teacher and students have a discussion about some moral value on how to behave at a restaurant.

Assessment:  Students will write a story about a special time in their life and they must use the sequence connectors.

Debriefing:  Teacher will use PowerPoint to create scaffolding activities.  Students will design characters and write narration in the game scenario

What cognitive skills do this game help to cultivate:  critical thinking, visual processing, auditiory processing and processing ability. 

What new literacies skills do this game help to cultivate logical thinking: Students have the ability to connect the game to the real world.