| As a special education teacher, I am always on the | | | | iTouch Games for Education |
| lookout for high quality educational games that will hold | | | | At first, I had a little concern about my students using |
| the interest of my students. My biggest problem is I | | | | these handheld games for educational purposes. As I |
| have a wide range of developmental levels in my | | | | said before, I am a special education teacher and my |
| classroom. This makes it hard for me to shop around | | | | students tend to be egocentric as it is. Giving them a |
| for games. Not only do I have to think about the kids | | | | handheld game, I was afraid would only thrust them |
| this year but I also have to think about the kids in the | | | | deeper into their own world. |
| future years. | | | | However, I discovered they became more vocal and |
| Here is what I look for in games: | | | | picked up skills very quickly. They loved singing along |
| Settings:o Can the sound be easily turned on and | | | | with some of the songs and playing the games. Of |
| off?o Can the music be turned on and off separate | | | | course, it is too soon to tell if it translates into anything |
| from the sound?o Can the brightness be adjusted? | | | | more, but they do make sounds and that is progress. |
| Levels:o Can difficult be changed easily for different | | | | Online Educational Games |
| students?o Can students pick up at level they | | | | Online games will be your biggest resource whether |
| completed?o Are rewards given for completing | | | | you are a teacher or a parent. The Internet is full of |
| levels?o Are there incentives for advancing? | | | | free games you can play and games you can |
| Players:o Is the game single player or multiple | | | | download for a small fee. The key to finding these |
| players?o How are the characters portrayed on the | | | | games is to go and play a trial version first. On iTunes, |
| screen? | | | | the trials are normally called "Lite." Other sites like |
| I want the games to be inviting for the students where | | | | PlayFirst, have 30-minute trial versions before you |
| the kids will want to play the games. The graphics and | | | | have to buy the full set. The catch is you have to sign |
| sound need to draw the children in and keep their | | | | up to the site. However, it is totally worth it to get to try |
| attention without being to stimulating. This is why it is | | | | out the game before you spend the money. |
| important that the music be able to turn off. Not all the | | | | Finding educational games for the classroom or for |
| children can handle the background music. Therefore, it | | | | your own house just takes a little bit of questioning. |
| must be able to easily turn off for some children while | | | | You have to ask yourself what it is you are trying to |
| be readily available to stimulate other children without | | | | teach. Once you know what you want your kids to |
| me having to figure out how to turn it back on.iPhone/ | | | | learn, the games will start popping out at you. |