Reflectiation #8 Continuation of Computational Thinking and Educational Gaming Programs

This week our class went over computational thinking and how it can be used in our lessons.  We went over excel sheets and the simple functions to calculate data.  It was difficult remembering the different functions but once you applied the functions, calculating the data was fun and efficient.  For example, finding relationships between columns can easily be expressed through a function.  It made understanding and finding positive or negative correlation between two or more sets of data.  The one thing I didn't like about excel is the aesthetics.  Putting numbers and functions in a cell is not engaging to me.  Setting up scenarios can help but producing excel sheets can be a boring experience.  Typing the functions can be static and mundane as well.  I feel that there are new programs and apps that make calculating data easy and fun. 
Our class was introduced to educational gaming programs in this week's class session as well.  I got a chance to test out second life and the blood typing game.  These games provided an experience that prepares you to handle real-world situations.  The blood typing game allowed players to experience the procedures to draw blood from a patient and how to properly conduct a blood transfusion.  Second life offers players a virtual interaction space where people can learn.  Unlike facebook, second life provides a virtual avatar and space to construct a living environment to interact with other users.  Second-life is a virtual forum or chat room to swap ideas and information.  Meeting and collaborative work sites can be created in second-life.  These games are important in education and instruction because it captures an emotion and a real-world experience that readings and written material lack.  I am excited to discover more educational games. 
An image of second-life taken from http://www.goldicq.com/up_files/image/Article/2011/02/17/76271121.jpg