Virtual Oilwell

Thanks to a recent issue of Technology & Learning, I read about the American Geological Institutes's Web site. On it, I discovered a fascinating game. I can't really decide if it's incredible useful, right-wing brainwashing technique or both. Ha! It's called Virtual Oilwell. This interactive role-playing game casts the students in the role of a land-owning Louisianan (is that a word?) who wants to drill for oil. They must learn about geology, consultants, fossil fuels, etc. in order to do so. A description of the game:

"This online strategy game has the player as a prospector trying to find oil, working off a limited budget. The player collects and interprets seismic data to search for oil traps. They are required to file environmental impact statements before drilling and use drill logs to determine when to start pumping. The player has access to a library, with several pages on how oil is trapped and how to find the traps using seismic data."

I could see how it would be useful for Geology classes. I have forwarded it to my science teachers in the middle school but no takers so far.

New Social Studies Interactives: Mission US and Life Without the Bill of Rights

This Spring, our fifth graders are introduced to the American Revolution in their Social Studies classes. They even have an overnight trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Each year, I do my best to help integrate technology into their studies and I am really excited about two new online tools, both discovered thanks to Learning and Leading with Technology.

Mission US is a free, online role playing game in which students act as either loyalists or patriots in 1770 Boston, Massachusetts. They act as apprentices and interact with locals, being asked to choose sides as tensions rise. Our fifth graders ADORED this activity. They were constantly getting up to go visit each others' characters and discuss what should be done. Teachers can even manage classes and track student progress through the game. Students can play at home if the teacher sets it up that way--and our students certainly did. There is a classroom guide with ideas for multimedia projects and other classroom activities. I knew it was a hit when the Social Studies teacher said that the kids were bringing up connections in his class, a la "Oh, like in Mission US!"

The next resource is "Life Without The Bill of Rights" from the Bill of Rights Institute. In this free click-and-explore game, students imagine what life might be like if there were no, say, freedom of speech in America. It's not anywhere near as engaging as Mission US since the kids cannot make choices, but it is a graphic representation to which they can connect, something that may be difficult when just reading about, say "freedom to petition." It clarifies some of the more nebulous rights.

I'll be using these again next year.

Incredibots

Today, I asked one of my favorite students--the one who speaks out of turn constantly and yet makes me laugh every day--what he does for fun on the computer. He showed me Incredibots...and boy am I glad I asked. This real-life computer robot physics simulator is so very powerful. And he does this for fun! You can use a preselected robot, or create your own by selecting shapes, then adding joints, thrusters at various intersections and try to complete a number of preset missions. Thanks JW!

ClassBrain

ClassBrain is a web site that has an educational games page I just adore, especially for Math teachers. There are strategy games, brain teasers and of course word-based games but the best ones are for practicing coordinates in the Math Section and my first graders love Da Numba. Maybe that's just because they like the name of it so much. They say it over and over like a prehistoric chant: Da Numba, Da Numba, Da Numba. Nevermind that they're using their BRAINS...or in this case the ClassBrain.