Source Publication: FarrockBiology.com Writer: Ray Taruskin, Bio Teacher, Far Rockaway, NY
The EduGame software and "wands" have made a big impact on my class. The first day I got to use the software for polling the class with questions concerning the days lessons, I did not expect the response by the class or what I would learn from using it.
I taught about active transport, passive transport, diffusion and osmosis as I usually do, and planned on using the polling unit of the EduGame. I prepared 10 questions on the topic and left some time at the end of the lesson to review with the class using the wands. I previously inputted the names of each student so that they had an assigned wand. The class liked the idea of the assigned wands, The students were starting to take ownership of this equipment.
When I started reviewing the questions, I saw, as did the kids, the number of students who got the answers wrong. After each question I would explain why the right answer was right. By the 5th or 6th question, they were getting all the questions right and cheering when I clicked on the poll and discovered that everyone picked the same answer. The class loved the process and I became aware of what they had difficulty in learning. I am going to use this on a daily basis and will report here if the response changes or if the students grades improve on exams.
As of December 19th, my class has definitely benefited from using EduGame and Eduware. Their test scores are higher, their interest is peaked and they all participate in the polling activities. Recently I started printing out the questions we use in EduGame and give it to the students so that they can study with those questions.
I am very happy for the progress my class has shown with this technology. It was money well spent.
