Week 4 Introduction to the range of new literacies (I)

Assignment #1

SCRAMBLE WITH FRIENDS 

1. What gaming elements provide users the learning content and how? 

“Scramble with Friends” is a grid with four rows and four columns of letters. Players have two minutes to make as many words as they can. You can create words in any direction while racing against the clock. Points are accumulated from the amount of words you create and the length (difficulty) of each word. You can also accumulate bonus points by using the added features such as "Freeze"(freezes the time), "inspiration"(shows you 3 words), and "scramble"(rearranges the letters). The player with the most points after the three rounds wins the game. 

Text- Players need to be able to read and recognize the letters to create words. Players need to be able to read and understand the feedback from the game to comprehend how well they are doing. For example when the player creates a lengthy word “Scramble” will respond with "EXCELLENT" compared to a short word Scramble will respond with "Good." 

Visual-Graphic Elements- Players need to recognize and visually create different words within the time limit. The highlighted words make it easier for the player to notice what word they are trying to create. 

Audio-Elements- After a word is created “Scramble” informs the player by audio sounds if it is an acceptable word. It also notifies the player how high on the scale of words they scored. The most notable audio sound that “Scramble” makes is the time ticking, which informs you how much time you have left in the round. 

2. What is the goal of the game?

The goal of “Scramble with Friends” is to accumulate the most points at the end of the three rounds. By creating as many words as you can within each round. 

3. What are rules of playing this game?

Each player has two minutes each round to create as many words as they can. There are a total of 3 rounds within one match. You can create words in any direction, but they have to be actual words. You can use the bonus features only if you have enough coins available to buy them. 

4. Does this game have any scenario design? 

This game does not have any scenario design. It is a puzzle game that strengths ability and reasoning ability. 

      Assignment #2 

    Create a simple ELA lesson plan addressing the following components

    Grade Level- Third 

    Common core standards and learning outcomes - CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.3.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. 

I   Instructional activities- Students will partner up and play a full game of “Scramble with Friends.” After each round students will compare to their partner what words they found and missed. Each student will have to write down five words they both found and five words they missed. They can read aloud each word from their list to their partner. This will help them with their phonic awareness. They will be asked to define each of the words as well. This will help them with broaden their vocabulary. Lastly, the students will have to use the words correctly in a sentence. This will give the students more practice in learning the words and their meanings.

    Assessment- The assessment will be based on how many new words students can add to their lists, how many they can define, and how many they can use correctly in a sentence. 

    Debriefing- I would ask each student a series of questions.

     1. Can you make five complete sentences out of the words you found?

     2. Do you know the meaning of any of the words you found or didn't find? 

   What cognitive skills do this game help to cultivate? - “Scramble with Friends” can help with word recognition, spelling, reading, vocabulary knowledge, and visual and auditory processing. 

   What new literacies skills do this game help to cultivate?

   “Scramble with Friends” will help cultivate students motor skills, vocabulary knowledge, auditory skills, analyze textual information, and develop learners spatial skills.