It’s that time of year for my annual list of the best online learning games. In order to make it on this list, games had to:
* be accessible to English Language Learners.
* provide exceptionally engaging content.
* not provide access to other non-educational games on their site, though there is one on this list that doesn’t quite meet this particular criteria.
* be seen by me during 2010. So they might have been around prior to this time, but I’m still counting them in this year’s list.
You might also be interested in:
The Best Online Learning Games — 2009
The Best Online Learning Games — 2008
The Best Online Learning Games — 2007
Ordinarily, I rank the games on this list, and I have a larger number. However, I have to say that, thought there are some nice games here, I was less-than-impressed with this year’s “crop.” So I’m not going to list them in any order of preference. Let me know if you think I’m being too harsh.
Here are my choices for The Best Online Learning Games — 2010:
Whack Attack is a game from the BBC that tests knowledge on Math, English or Science. It’s probably accessible to Intermediate English Language Learners. The questions are good, though the game is a little weird. You’re given three answer choices. Each answer is color-coded, and in order to choose an answer, you have to “whack” the correctly-colored figure that keeps popping up.
If you’ve ever wanted to be a dragon, Choice of the Dragon is the game for you. You get to be one — as nice or as mean as you want! It’s “choose your own adventure game” and makes for very engaging reading. I wouldn’t say the content is particularly educational, but reading is learning! It’s accessible to Intermediate ELL’s.
Jeopardy Labs lets teachers and students create their own online games of Jeopardy. No registration is required, and each game has its own unique url address. Most other apps to create Jeopardy games require a software download, which makes Jeopardy Labs really stand-out since none is required.
Headline Clues from Michigan State University also fits into the category of an online game that might be difficult for all but advanced English Language Learners, but is a great idea that can be adapted for using in the classroom with paper and pen. In the game, you’re shown the lead paragraph, but letters from two words in the headline are missing. Players have to use clues in the first paragraph to identify what the missing words should be. As you play the online version, you can ask for clues. One of the great things about using this game in the classroom is that students can create their own and have classmates trying to figure out the answers, as well as giving them clues if needed.
Feedback is welcome.
If you found this post useful, you might want to look at the 480 other “The Best…” lists and consider subscribing to this blog for free.
Hi Larry,
Thanks very much. Personally I would go crazy sifting through the number of games I imagine you looked at in order to create this list, so I am very grateful. The two which stood out for me were, unfortunately, both way too difficult for elementary and intermediate ELL’s but have inspired me to think about creating easier versions. I loved the BBC’s “Only Connect” categorising game (although erm….. blush…….. I couldn’t find even one category within the given time). As you say, it could easily be adapted for young ELL’s. I also liked Michigan State University’s “Headline Clues” and the fact that it requires students to summarise, rather than just re-quote the headlines.
Thanks again.
Deborah
Whack Attack is really a great online learning game. Thank you for this post!
Thanks for a great list. I especially loved Man vs Wild. I just got done checking it out and watching a man squeeze water from elephant dung. My students will love this…especially because it is 90% boys. I’ll reblog about this one and share it with the staff at my school. Thanks again
Thanks … I will take a look at all of these – both for my use inworking with inner city kids and to share on my blog. Jeopardy Labs is one that sounds particularly good!