Building Organization Skills: Using information to make thoughtful choices
Strong organization skills require you to consider different pieces of information before making organizational choices. In this workshop, our expert Gamer Guides introduce LW4K Explorers to a game and an app to practice making different organizational choices based on available information.
Overview
The LW4K Mastering Organization series offers an introduction to using games and apps to discuss and practice critical skills for school and daily life. Organization is the thinking skill that helps a child take a systematic approach to problem-solving by creating order out of disorder. For example, organization is a necessary skill for keeping track of school materials and maintaining progress on longterm projects.
When playing games, players are asked to accumulate and organize objects or money in order to progress. Playing games can help improve a player’s organization skills by practicing this skill while in the midst of a fun and immersive experience.
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Games and Apps Used in this Workshop
In Fallout Shelter, the player is asked to manage an underground vault full of survivors by keeping track of resources like food, water, and electricity. Players must also choose which rooms to place people in and which clothing, weapons, and pets to give each person. Without staying well-organized, survivors will be unhappy, daily bonuses will be lower, and the player will run out of resources.
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Game Downloads
Fallout Shelter Mac/iOS Download
Fallout Shelter Android Download
Google Calendar is an online calendar tool for saving schedules to a daily, weekly, or monthly calendar. Users can create color-coded events in correlation with their assignments, appointments, and other important commitments. One great advantage of Google Calendar is its ability to be shared. Organizing tasks in a group for a school project, or simply finding common times to meet for lunch or other activities is made all the easier with Google Calendar.
Learn More about Game
Game Downloads
Google Calendar Mac/iOS Download
Google Calendar Android Download
Workshop Schedule
To join the live session, simply select the appropriate date and time below, then click on the Join Live Session button. If this is your child’s first session, please make sure to view and follow our setup instructions below.
Welcome to the LearningWorks Time Management Workshop
For LearningWorks Live’s Time Management workshop you will need a Tablet, Phone, or Computer that has the ability to run Zoom and a device (can be the same one or a separate) that has access to the Google Play or Apple App store.
We recommend a pair of headphones with a mic as well. As listening to our Gamer-Guides over Zoom will be required for the session and a device where we can hear your child respond back is preferred.
Install Zoom to connect to our Session
Our Executive Functions Workshops will be powered by the online meeting software Zoom. To download Zoom, click here. Follow the appropriate steps for your device.
If you have an Android device, download the Zoom app in the Google Play store. Open Google Play. Search for “ZOOM Cloud Meetings.” Download the application.
If you have an Apple device, download the Zoom app in the App Store. Open the App Store. Search for “ZOOM Cloud Meetings.” Download
Download the Game & App of the day!
Each one of our workshops will include a game and/or app of the day. This will be listed in the specific Session’s “Info for Parents”. We expect every child to have it downloaded and good to go beforehand to keep the session rolling smoothly. All of these apps will be available in the Google Play or Apple App stores.
Become familiar with Zoom
To join Zoom meeting: Click the link in the invitation email. A new window will pop up. Kids will be prompted to choose phone audio or computer audio; choose appropriate type for the device.
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-How-Do-I-Join-A-Meeting-
For students to access Whiteboard: Go to “Sharing” on top of the screen. Click on “Annotate” to be able to write/draw on Whiteboard; in this manner, all Explorers will be able to participate. If your child is accessing the Zoom meeting on a tablet, go to the lower right of the screen and click on the “pencil” icon.
Please note: If your child abuses their Whiteboard privileges, the host will disable their ability to annotate on the Whiteboard.
To “raise your hand”: Click on “participants” at the bottom of your screen. A sidebar will pop up on the right side showing participants in the zoom meeting. Click on your own name. At the bottom of the screen, click on “raise hand.” This will allow your Learning Works for Kids hosts to know you are back on the Whitescreen after playing your game.
Information on Attendee Controls in Zoom Meeting: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/200941109-Attendee-Controls-in-a-Meeting
Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
Zoom Meeting Reminders
One day before the scheduled Zoom meeting, you will receive an email with the link to the Zoom meeting for that week. The email will also serve as a meeting reminder for you and your child. Be sure to add live@learningworksforkids.com to your contact list to ensure that updates about our courses come to your inbox.[/ultimate_modal]
[/ult_content_box]Workshop Activities
The LW4K method to using video games as teaching tools relies on strategic teaching principles and our approach of “Detect, Reflect, and Connect.” The purpose of the Detect, Reflect, and Connect steps is to mold the child into an active learner who becomes aware of, engaged in, and contemplative of what she is learning. These steps can enhance motivation and concentration. They also assist in extending learning beyond a particular game or technology and connecting it to the real world.
After a brief introduction, it’s time to play! All of our Learning Works For Kids Explorers will be able to hop into their own game and individually explore for about five minutes with the EF Coaches checking in to answer any questions or provide help if it is needed. A discussion will follow focusing on the different strategies individual players used to approach each level. EF Tech Coaches and Explorers will discuss topics such as … What was your experience like? How did you use your Organization skills to complete the task? What was challenging?[/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Reflect” list_icon=”Defaults-wechat weixin”]Reflect or consider how the thinking skills used during gameplay helps them to achieve their goals.
With these strategies in mind, explorers can return to the game to either refine their strategy or employ a fellow explorer’s method. After a short period of play, we continue with a group discussion to further reflect on the benefits and drawbacks of various strategies used by the group.[/info_list_item][info_list_item list_title=”Connect” list_icon=”Defaults-refresh”]Connect or apply game-based thinking skills to real-world activities.
The group discussion will move on to how these same strategies can be used for achieving goals outside of the game. Explorers will be posed with questions, such as: What did you learn today? How can you translate your Organization skills to other areas of your life? During the discussion, we will introduce an app that can help explorers improve their Organization skills with school subjects and extracurricular activities.
Follow-Up Activities
[bsf-info-box icon=”Defaults-check” icon_size=”32″ icon_color=”#1e73be” title=”Activity #1″ pos=”left” title_font=”font_family:PT Sans|font_call:PT+Sans” title_font_size=”desktop:20px;”]Add five items to your google calendar.- One item should be an exam or due date.
- One item should be a study session in preparation for the above
- One item should be a repeating item like sport or music practice.