Using Electronic Games in the Classroom

In this article we explore the various ways in which video games and those designed for the PC can be effectively used in the classroom for educational purposes.

BBC Schools

BBC Schools is a service for children, parents and teachers at home and at school - fun and easy to use curriculum based learning resources.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/4_11/

Soft Schools

Worksheets, quizzes, games and online practice on math, grammar, phonics, handwriting, word search, language arts, social studies and geography for preschool to middle school.
http://www.softschools.com/

Oxfam Education

Oxfam Education offers a huge range of ideas, resources and support for developing the global dimension in the classroom and the whole school. Education that helps pupils understand their world and make a positive difference in it.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/

School Express

11,000+ worksheets, activity pages weekly, 130 software programs, online math, storytime, funtime area, make awards, make worksheets, and more. 170 Thematic Units.
http://www.schoolexpress.com/

FunBrain

FunBrain is the #1 site for online educational games for kids of all ages. (math, grammar, science, spell, history)
http://www.funbrain.com/

Channel 4 Learning

Online educational resources for teachers, pupils and home learners
http://channel4learning.com/index.html

Teaching Ideas

This site contains lesson ideas, activities and resources, and they're all FREE for you to use in your classrooms! You can find ideas and resources in lots of different ways...
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/

Worksheets to print, reading tips, free worksheets for preschool through fifth grade, book reviews, free colouring pages, and more!
http://www.tlsbooks.com/kidspagearchive.htm

Free printable worksheets, clip art, colouring pages, games, and other activities. Resources for Pre-School, Christian education and Holidays: Shapes, Colours, Alphabet, and Pre-Math. Type and print your own manuscript worksheets online. Math Worksheet generator.
http://akidsheart.com/

Gamequarium, the site that swims with learning fun! A portal to more than 2000 interactive learning activities and games for preschool through grade 6.
http://www.gamequarium.com/

This site provides a child friendly environment for learning just about anything and everything. Subjects include Art and Craft, Language Arts, Maths, Science and Social Studies.
http://www.learninghaven.com/

A very fun and interactive site for students to explore on their own or to be used as supplement during teaching.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/learn.jsp

Provides educational games, learning games for kids, online geography games, online learning, endangered species, animals, English vocabulary, science online and more.
http://sheppardsoftware.com/

Pen Drive Applications

This site is a resource for the review of portable apps, portable freeware and Open Source portable software applications that can be run directly from a USB device.
http://www.pendriveapps.com/

Portable Apps

Now you can carry your favourite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks, settings, email and more with you. Use them on any Windows computer. All without leaving any personal data behind.
http://portableapps.com/

Created for K-5 learners, Kidspiration® develops thinking, literacy and numeracy skills using proven visual learning principles. In reading and writing, Kidspiration strengthens word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension and written expression. With new visual math tools, students build reasoning and problem solving skills.

Inspiration® is the essential visual thinking and learning tool students rely on to plan, research and complete projects successfully. With the integrated Diagram and Outline Views, learners create graphic organizers and expand topics into writing. This powerful combination encourages learning in multiple modes. As a result, students gain and retain a better understanding of concepts and demonstrate knowledge, improving their performance across the curriculum.

NetOp School is the world’s most comprehensive teaching solution for the networked classroom. With NetOp School you can instruct each student individually, yet simultaneously, whether they are in the same room or across the globe. NetOp School is the economical and effective answer for instructing today’s computer literate students.

Give your students the targeted practice they need while saving yourself time and effort. The software programs in the Essential Tools for Teachers Classroom Suite make it incredibly easy to create engaging learning activities, including worksheets, quizzes, puzzles, games, and flashcards for all grade levels and abilities.

The 2003 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia provides easy access to 78,000+ articles at three reading levels as well as a complete atlas, dictionary, and thesaurus. The learning experience is enhanced with thousands of videos, illustrations, panoramas, Web links,and more! Perfect for research projects across the curriculum.

10 Minute Teacher 's Planner - this state-of-the art interface lets you quickly create all things you want: lesson plans, substitute plans, daily and weekly calendars, homework printouts and much more.

This new 40-minute DVD is the easy way to motivate and train your whole teaching staff on all the ins and outs of using Classroom Jeopardy! – all without opening the guide! Hosted by an experienced teacher who has successfully organized both classroom and school-wide Jeopardy! competitions, the video is packed with both basic operating instructions and successful classroom management tips. Also great for quickly getting new teachers up to speed in the future!

Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary incorporates more than 20,000 words and their definitions into 6,000 full-color definitions of a wide variety of objects from all aspects of life. Each clear and concise definition has been prepared in cooperation with Merriam-Webster lexicographers. The result is an indispensable visual reference that goes beyond object-identification to answer questions about function, significance, and purpose. Every page of this unique volume will both catch the eye and enrich the mind.