Free Rice

I have posted about this on another blog http://artygames.blogspot.com/ but I really like the idea of students discussing people less fortunate then themselves and how even doing something as mundane as learning your times tables can contribute to a better live for another boy or girl their own age.

I like it because as an Art Teacher it has a lovely section on Famous Artworks. I use it as a reward for students who complete tasks early or if we have had a disrupted lesson. You know those times you get back from assembly and only have 10 minutes til the end of the lesson. I make it into a competition. Who is the first to 200 grains of rice etc. 

Boys love this because there is instant feedback and simply because they see it as a competition - they forget that they happen to be learning at the same time. I don't care because for me it tick all the right boxes both morally and from an educational point of view.

www.freerice.com

Quizlet - Online Study

Quizlet is a Web 2.0 tool that allows you to make fun interactive flash cards. You can set up words, definitions even images to commit to memory (images are an extra and cost you a small fee - $1.00.) It is a fun way for students to remember. My senior students use it to remember the names and artists of works we are studying in our case studies. There are three different modes; familiarise, learn and test. The best thing about the testing mode is that the students can time themselves. This introduces a gaming element and the students respond very well to attempting to beat their best score and time. Very addictive just like any good game, but your students just happen to be learning at the same time.

http://quizlet.com