Fun lesson fillers used to consolidate learning …

Fun lesson fillers used to consolidate learning …

Occasionally I will incorporate some of the games from the BBC Skillswise site into a lesson, to add an element of fun, and also to consolidate some of the learning.  These games are brief, they provide instant feedback, provide a competitive element (for those that may enjoy this), and are also light-hearted and fun to play.  As an example, the Silent Invaders game (http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english/games?page=2) is very similar to the old Space Invaders game that was around in the 1980s.  The object of the game is to identify the silent letter in a word, then to use this letter to shoot and destroy the word as it weaves its way down the screen.  Instructions are provide in writing, but these are also read aloud, which is helpful for learners with low-level literacy. 

Not all of the games provide an audio with the instructions however, and I have found that some of the text used in the instructions has been quite challenging for some of our lower-level literacy students to read.  In these instances, learners require tutor support to help them understand the objective of the game, and how to navigate their way around. 

In addition, the site is English, and for some of the games, you need to listen very carefully, as the strong English accent used for the audio in much of this material can be difficult to interpret (e.g. The Delivery Driver game, http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/english/games?page=1 ).  My advice would be to thoroughly test the games yourself, and then pick and choose your games carefully, as some (depending on your learners’ literacy skills) would likely present more frustration for learners than gains. 

Although I see value in these games for reinforcing learning, one issue they do raise for me is the challenges that arise when using international material available on the internet.  BBC Skillswise at least uses the same spelling conventions as NZ, but the content is not always familiar (e.g. one of the capitalisation activities presented in the Play your caps right game requires learners to capitalise “York” – learners have often failed to identify this however, as it is not the name of a place that they easily recognise).   I compare this to Pathways Awarua that was developed in New Zealand, and has incorporated New Zealand specific content into it (e.g. images include pictures of Maori and Pasifika peoples, references made to Pasifika foods such as taro, and images of artefacts such as kite).   

More on Pathways Awarua to follow in a later blog …