Category: Uncategorised

Can computation thinking help learners become better problem solvers?

Computation does not just help students become better problem solvers, but is an essential aspect to learning. Scratch jr for example, is a coding site designed specifically for elementary and middle school students. The software uses puzzles, challenges and games, to challenge students to problem solve. Outside of coding, other web based games are very useful to practice problem solving. Lavaboy and Watergirl, Minecraft, RPG’s and countless other games make problem solving exercises fun, engaging, interactive and accessible.

Discuss the pros and cons of learners using games as consumers, compared to learners creating games (like subject-focused escape rooms for example)

Using games as consumers provides a more narrow approach to learning, as you are going through the game with the goals that the developers set out for you. Creating a game provides learners with the resources to set their own goals for the game. Both options have pros and cons, for example when playing a game that was made by someone else, you didnt get any say in the making of the game, but that game could also be used to teach specific lessons. Creating your own games, privides students with complete creative liberty to make something both meaningfull and impactful to them. On the other hand, sometimes having a narrower approach allows students to focus more on a specific topic, rather than a broad one.

• Are there any digital accessibility practices that you often see being missed? Are there any that you know YOU often miss?

The biggest digital accessibility practices that are often missed, is making videos more accessible. In loud classrooms, and with distracting sounds and images, information can often be missed, and there are many different ways to make your videos more accessible. Adding captions is massive in assisting all types of learners, especially those who are hard of hearing and captions are also just useful for the reasons I stated earlier.

• Are there any digital accessibility practices that surprised you? Why?

The biggest surprise to me was the part about colour. I have never considered how colour is perceived diffrently. Whether its colour blindness or something else, colours are used to enhance videos, websites and videogames. Making sure colours aren’t too harsh, saturated or bright, is a simple way to make things that much more accessible.

This is an image I took over summer break. Even while editing the photo I was getting a headache while looking at the image. – Finlay Jessop

Watch and respond to the video

Watch the video and respond to the questions