Spelling Practice with Dolce Sight Words

"Spelling Practice with Dolce Sight" is a great online educational game that provides students with the opportunity to practice spelling sight words. "Sight Words are words that are recognized immediately (on sight) without phonetically decoding or sounding out parts" ("Spelling Practice Dolch Word List", 2012). In this era, kids are increasingly becoming tech savvy, so providing games as such is a great way to include technology in the classroom as well as in the home. However, many online games should be properly assessed by parents and educators to ensure that content of the game is appropriate for the child. Many will find that the use of rubrics in determining appropriate games can be beneficial.

 As an education major, I've been immensely exposed to various types of rubrics. Many are simplistic in structure, while others are merely complex.  It always crossed my mind that one day, I would have to create one of my own. When constructing  the rubric for an online educational game, one of the most difficult tasks was creating categories to cover different aspects of the game without causing the rubric to become too lengthy. For example, the category of layout and design may include various categories such as layout, graphics, sound, color scheme, and navigation. Some of the categories covered the same content, so it was more convenient to compile into one category. Overall, no matter the categories, rubrics are scoring tools that should explicitly represent performance expectations.

Use of this online educational game is appropriate for teachers who are looking to integrate technology and would widely reflects that of NETS*T Standard 2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  By doing so teachers are able to increase learning opportunities by providing students with contemporary tools that help develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes (NETS*T website).  I felt that "Spelling Practice with Dolce Sight Words" is a great tool for the younger primary grades to use as spelling practice at  home or in the classroom. This game, as well as many other online educational games, can be played after students complete assignments. It allows for the students to continue with the learning process even during free time. Teachers can also use this game as an interactive technology activity with the whole class. By turning it into a timed game of who can spell the most words, students are motivated to progress each time they play. 

 After my experience with constructing a rubric for this particular online educational game, I felt students should be provided with different means of monitoring their progress. In the future, because this game does not provide any real form of feedback,I would provide my students with a monitor sheet that allows them to keep track of their progress (Ex: Number of words spelled per game session). I felt that when incorporating technology, students should still be able to monitor how well they are progressing and teachers still need to be able to assess the performance of the student. 


Overall, this assignment has emphasized the importance of ensuring the appropriateness of online educational games. Like many other teaching tools, it is essential that teachers provide appropriate material for their students, but at the same time keep up with different technology trends. Incorporating online educational games is beneficial for students, parents, and teachers and provides appropriate "educational fun".

References

Abcya.com(2012). Spelling Practice Dolch Sight Words .

     Retrieved March 1, 2012, from abcya.com website: http://www.abcya.com/dolch_sight_word_spelling.htm

International Society for Technology in Education.  (2008). NETS*T Advanced Digital Age.

     Retrieved February 20, 2012, from ISTE website: http://www.iste.org/standards.aspx.