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5 Addictive Games Teachers Should Allow in the Classroom

See an interesting article at
http://www.dosomething.org/news/5-addictive-games-teachers-should-allow-class

5 Addictive Games Teachers Should Allow in Class

Usually teachers are out of the loop, using outdated slang and textbooks that look centuries old. Yet one awesome teacher in Atlanta is tapping into a modern craze to make physics more interesting.

Nine-grade physics teacher John Burk at the Westminster Schools challenged his students to explain the elements of physics in Angry Birds, the popular game that requires a player to catapult birds into the sky with a sling shot. According to Burk's blog, the students quickly identified the examples of velocity and acceleration within the game.

Burk's technique got us thinking about what other popular games could make school more interesting. For example:

Call of Duty: Black Ops. History has never been so action packed as this best-selling game. The player controls a special forces operative (and at times a CIA agent) during the cold war. The game introduces vital historical figures and key places (the Soviet Union, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam) within the cold war era. There's even a feature that lets four players fight zombies as John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Robert McNamara, and Fidel Castro.


Farmville. If your school can't afford a greenhouse, your science teacher can show you the challenges of growing plants with this agriculturally-focused game. Despite the fact that plants grow a lot faster virtually, the players will face plant-growth challenges.


Scrabble. Word-puzzle games such as this one can help you improve your vocabulary in a creative way. Perhaps a teacher could restrict the game exclusively to SAT vocabulary.


Mario Kart. We're waiting for a driver's ed teacher to use this popular car-racing game to show the importance of keeping one's eyes on the road. We all know Luigi has the speed, but Donkey Kong's superior traction and slow and steady method can also win the race.


The Sims. A home-ec teacher's dream, this second-life type game challenges the user to balance a budget, to properly feed and supervise children, and to check-in on each Sim's mental health.

SASIC hosts programs that inform the public on importance of diet

During the San Antonio Food Bank Free Summer Meals Program at the SASIC campus, children age 1 to 18 can eat a free meal twice a day.  Included with these free meals are educational opportunities to learn healthy eating tips, proper nutrition and general well-being.  On Wednesday July 6, 2011, one such occasion enabled students and their families to learn the importance of a well-balanced diet and the healthy aspects of such. 

Mr. Gualberto De Leon, the Nutrition Educational Assistant from AgriLife Extensions-a subsidiary of Texas A&M systems and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was at the SASIC campus teaching students and members of the community about diets through a series of interactive learning and games.

Look for Mr. De Leon to be back on campus during the regular school year as well, helping students understand the importance of proper eating and the importance of healthy living.

Great Painter Cy Twombly dies at age 83

One of the great American Abstract Expressionist painters dies at age 83

See full article at
http://www.fox8.com/entertainment/la-me-cy-twombly-20110706,0,7468773.story

Using 21st century technology in the classrooms-cellphones

One important technological resource dominating our students lives are cell phones. This upcoming year we will continue our endeavor to help students expand their personal learning network through the use of Smart Phones and other portable devices. Smart Phones are increasingly more popular and allow students to access many applications which are viable for communication, but also for learning. These applications range from basic calculator and internet functioning to learning foreign languages and identifying astronomical entities.

Utilizing technology to its fullest will change the implications on how, when and where we are able to engage students. Studies show that students using Smart Phones and other mobile technology have unlimited access to class content bridging the academic divide and improving end of course scores in core subjects.  24/7 access to people and information will also give students the experience with technology they will likely be using when they are in college and entering the job market.

SASIC was the first Education entity ever to approach SCVNGR® to build-out a customized scavenger hunt-including trip to the museum, city landmarks, micro-biospheres, and many other educational adventures. Students were organized into teams and gathered points based off the selections they were to find in the Downtown San Antonio region.

Look for more SCVNGR® lessons in the 2011-2012 school year.

Animation Program Maya 3-D Comes to SASIC

One of the Urban Film School's Faculty- Ms. Allysun de Leon will be traveling during the month of July to participate in a wonderful regional training through Stanford University for the animation software, Maya 3-D. Be sure to check her out and enroll in SASIC's new Maya Animation class in the Fall.

Maya® 3D animation software delivers an end-to-end creative workflow with comprehensive tools for animation, modeling, simulation, visual effects, rendering, match moving, and compositing on a highly extensible production platform. Whether you work in film, games, television, advertising, publishing, or graphic design, Maya offers state-of-the-art toolsets, combined into a single affordable offering designed to help meet today’s demanding production requirements.