Clockwords


 * The discussion about the game Clockwords at UTS online Discussion board**

Yuqi Yan

Yuqi Yan/ Emi
Brett Lyon -

So from an ESL perspective to summarise our conversation the other night. The cons (negatives)
 * It focussed on speed so did not encourage thinking
 * Easier to type smaller words rather than large ones
 * The player can just guess if something is or is not a word, it might work and there is no learning about meaning, definition etc.

The pros (positives)
 * typing speed might improve
 * you can choose the letters that you want to use more of

//Anjie // // Going back to what we have discussed last meeting. The Game Clockwords was introduced by the architects group to us. During the presentation they said that this game will enrich your vocabulary and typing skills. As an explorer I tried to explore the game in the perspective of education. // // The introduction of the game is too long for me but you can skip it if you like. As I tried to play the game it is exiting. What is good in this word game is that you can type any words you want as long as it is accepted by the dictionary.com. However, pressure comes to rise as I go to the next level because I have to think of more long words to hit the bugs, type fast and think of the time. // // At the end of each level there is a summary. In education perspective I think there are two interesting facts display which are “Words per minute” and “Words Used”. Words per minute defines the skill of the player on typing while the Words Used defines how many words the player have stored in memory. However, as you play the game because of time pressure there will be incident that you will just guess words. Does guessing words improve your vocabulary? For me I don’t think so because improving vocabulary –knowing the meaning, synonym or antonym of a word. // // Another interesting is the "Broiler" which you can change and store strong letters to hit the bugs. The letters can be controlled by the players. // // (This is what I remember what I said during our discussion) // // Comments and reaction // // Cheers, // // Anjie // 

-- Muzi Liu
==== A game is often used for fun but sometimes it can be used as a tool for education. Many games have educational meaning to improve the players’ skill. It has many key factors; they are goals, rules, challenge, and interaction. The role of the game, clock words, is to help the players develop practical skills, such as, spelling, typing. The rule is trying to encourage players use different words as much as possible. It will certainly help the users to remember more words and improve the speed of typing, and the sound and images can attract the players’ interest. However, they are something can be improve, 1, if the game designed into two players’ competition, it will be more interactive. 2, usually, the players spell a word, but they don’t know the meaning, if the system can explain the word a little bit, it will be much meaningful to player. ====

Comment on Muzi Liu
I agree with what you have said that it will help players to develop on spellings and speed typing. However, if a player is an ESL learner it is not that useful because it is also important to know the meaning of the words and how to use it. Meanwhile, as i continue to search I have found out the game suggest that if you want to know the meaning of the words you have to check it by yourself to [|www.dictionary.com]. At the end of the game level you will find out a summary which includes the words you used during the game. The list of words used would be the words that you can look at dictionary.com for further reference about it. I think for ESL learners this will help more. Anjie

Yuqi Yan-

==== Just like we have said in class the very first thing the game could focus more on is the perspective of teaching as well as assessing. It might be better for those who are learning English as a second language to learn some new English word also to improve the speed of typing English words. All the effect could be achieved if only the game can add more teaching knowledge about introducing the spelling and meaning of a certain amount of new worlds with certain letters. Plus putting them in a context and let it make senses to the player. An instant test could be given after learning the wordsso that the player could have a deep impression on what the game has taught before playing. ====

Comment on Yuqi Yan
==== // Agree with Yuqi that if it is design for ESL learner, that should be more elements add to the game. I think to set a purpose for the game is very important when design a game. The clockwords game is suitable for practicing typing skill, but does not suit the need of ESL learner. // ====