Teaching Tech-Savvy Kids - Role Playing Chapter 5
I continue to see things in a new way as I read each chapter of this book. Often my knowledge in a particular area I never given much thought to is expanded. This is good!
I never thought of role playing as an educational endeavor or a “third place” for students to feel safe in. Parker discusses how Role Playing with online games can unlock a student’s empathy, creativity, story telling , collaboration and analytical skills. Besides, many of the shy less socially skilled students are more at ease in this environment.
One of the great powers of technology in education is the possibility for a teacher to connect with students on their turf and in a way that is exciting (and educational) for the students. Anytime we can teach and have it be fun, it’s a “win win”.
I like the idea of having some writing assignments ungraded. Give students a chance to write freely without worrying about a grade. This will encourage creativity and be fun. And I also agree the most powerful feedback of student work is from peers. I think students work harder on their writing if it is for a broader audience of peers and beyond rather than just the teacher.
Letting students play the roles of famous people in history or contemporary life seems interesting and thought provoking. What would it be like to live in Cairo right now? How would your life be if you were a citizen of the middle east? Mubarak, Khadafi?
The story about Clarissa and her safe place in Faraway Lands reminds me of a gathering I had last year with a group of twenty year olds. Every five minutes, they were texting or checking their phones. “Hello, I’m right here…here and now”… I’m glad Clarissa has a “nurturing” place in Faraway Lands, but it makes me sad, she apparently doesn’t have one in real life! Don’t these folks have homework to do?
I realize this is just part of the chapter, but I still feel a bit funny encouraging kids to play online games. I’ve never done it myself, and I’m sure it would be fun, but is it a good idea for kids to be meeting strangers online? Fantasizing with strangers online? If I’m a online predator, I can see learning the lingo and customs of a game and “making friends” and then lmirl (let’s meet in real life…). This brings me back to our wondering if the author has been in a class room?
I think role playing can be a great way to get kids out-of-their-shells so to speak. I've seen students who hate oral presentations (because it is about "them") who shine suddenly when they can role-play as someone else. Actually, I should know better because that was pretty much me in high school.
ReplyDeleteI too am amazed at what peer-feedback can do to enhance student writing. I have a lot of respect for one of our 7th grade LA teachers who creates such a safe and supportive environment in her room that "constructive" criticism flows freely and is accepted freely. I think this is what has enabled her to get almost all of her students to turn in their writing pieces via blog post instead of traditional pen-&-paper.
Lots of good thoughts and insights on this one Marty. Thanks for sharing!
I agree with you Marty, I would like to know when she was last in a classroom!
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad too that a lot of these ideas - role playing, virtual worlds - are being touted as a place for students to be themselves. Personally, it is hard to understand that there are that many students/people out there that can only feel comfortable online. That is a sad state of affairs. I, like Nick, did not want to make myself seen in high school, the quieter the better, but I was always able to find friends who shared similar interests and ideas, without the Internet.