Desmos Battleship is an engaging activity in which students can improve their visualisation skills, and deepen their understanding of linear functions and circles by making connections between algebraic and graphical representations. The Desmos Battleship activity was used in a Saturday STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)…

The authors introduce an educational video game (application, or "app"), "CandyFactory Educational Game," designed to promote students' development of partitive understanding of fractions while demonstrating the critical need to promote that development. The app includes essential game features of immediate feedback,…

The ability to develop engaging simulations and constructive learning experiences using mobile devices is unprecedented, presenting a disruption in educational practices of historical proportions. In this paper we describe some of the unique virtues that mobile learning hold for early age mathematics education. In particular, we describe how…

In this invited autobiography, the author describes the impact that educational gaming and simulation has had on his professional career. He begins by reviewing his early life and education in Aberdeen and his subsequent work as a research scientist, schoolteacher, and physics lecturer. He then shows how he changed disciplines from physics to…

Penny de Byl argues that one of the biggest challenges facing educators today is the integration of rich and immersive three-dimensional environments with existing teaching and learning materials. To empower educators with the ability to embrace emerging Web3D technologies, the Advanced Learning and Immersive Virtual Environment (ALIVE) research…

Reviews two spelling packages ("Spelldiver" and "Attack of the Spelling Bees") and a reading program ("The Word Bird"), which teaches spatial relationships while encouraging the young reader to read carefully. Includes suggested age(s), hardware needed, current price, manufacturer, distributor, and in-depth evaluation…

A teacher turned software programer expounds on his computing background, the philosophy behind his games, and on the roles and uses of these games and other software in educational settings. Advice on selecting software is provided for administrators and parents. (JN)

Critical in virtually all educational arenas, gaming and simulation techniques and distance learning are major areas of interest in today's U.S. Army training. The U.S. Army Armor School at Ft. Knox, KY contracted with the University of Louisville and Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in 2003 to develop online training for Army Captains. They…

Presents an outline for creating appropriate courseware from commercial business education software. An example outline is provided to illustrate how a commercial game can be transformed into an educationally sound piece of courseware. (CT)

Discusses the possible lack of credibility in educational interactive computer simulations. Topics addressed include "Shopping on Mars," a collaborative adventure game for arithmetic calculation that uses direct manipulation in the microworld; the Alternative Reality Kit, a graphical animated environment for creating interactive…

Discusses the possibilities for effective language teaching that might occur if teachers treated the computer as they would any other classroom aid, instead of seeing it as a rival. Examples given include text manipulation, question and answer, simulation, and the use of databases. (SED)

This paper discusses the types of computer software that are most effective in a classroom. Detailed descriptions are given of: (1) drill and practice programs; (2) tutorials; (3) simulations; and (4) games and problem-solving software. The effectiveness of each is discussed as well as the characteristics of a good program of its genre. An example…

Spion, an adventure game for intermediate and advanced college German students, requires players to communicate with a fictitious agent in complete, correct German sentences. The spy game was written in PROLOG, runs on an IBM-PC, and is available at no cost for noncommercial purposes. (Author/CB)

Discusses the popularity of adventure games in computer assisted language learning and attributes the success of this format to the Input Hypothesis and the Affective Filter Hypothesis. Criteria for the instructional evaluation of these games are presented. (Author/SED)

The claim that computer simulation exercises provide an excellent source of speaking practice is considered by examining the properties of computer simulations from a theoretical point of view and by describing the experience of using a particular simulation in a general English as a foreign language classroom. (Author/SED)