Just a quick one.  Play and learn is a great little MindMap for Educational games related to over 30 curriculum areas.  It gets updated regularly and could not be easier to use.  Feel confident that your students can use this site without wasting time on inappropriate content.  Check it out here.

Smokescreen is a cutting-edge game about life online. We all use Facebook, MySpace, Bebo and MSN to keep up with our mates - and we've all heard the stories about parties on Facebook being mobbed, or people getting stalked on MSN. The question is, what would you do if it happened to you?

Over 13 missions, Smokescreen follows the story of Max Winston and Cal Godfrey, two mates who've set up an exclusive social network called White Smoke. After Cal's involved in a car accident and falls into a coma, White Smoke becomes huge - and starts attracting huge problems. Each mission sees you explore the world of White Smoke, and find out who you can trust - and who you can't.

Smokescreen Game from Six to Start on Vimeo.

Web Trailer

Smokescreen Game from Six to Start on Vimeo.

What is it?  What2learn offers some really simple to create flash based literacy games that you can either get your students to create or simply make the yourself.  The game options are very simple in nature offering hangman, wordsearch, question and answers, anagrams and multiple choice but the point of what2leaarn is that students will really appreciate the opportunity to create and share their games with classmates.

How Can I use this in the classroom?  It would be reasonable to expect a group of grade 3-4 students to be able to create a game in around 10 - 15 minutes so you could ask them to do this in a literacy rotation without too much hassle.  You could ask students to use their weekly spelling words in the games or simply create games based on a theme you are doing in the classroom at them moment.

What2learn is a available here and free of course.

March 29 & 30 I would love to say I'll be there but unfortunately I won't. 

Game Based Learning 2010 takes place over two full days and includes an evening social event to make valuable connections in a relaxed environment. With a main conference programme running during these two days combined with breakout sessions for special interest groups there is something for everyone with an interest in using gaming and social media technology to improve learning, teaching and training.

GBL 2010 will explore successful deployments and evidence for both commercial off the shelf (COTS) as well as bespoke serious games in the areas of formal and informal education in schools and universities, healthcare, military, corporate training, banking together with workshops on game procurement and a dedicated strand featuring leading international research in Game Based Learning.

Confirmed speakers for GBL 2010 include:

• Ed Vaizey, Shadow Minister for Culture and the Creative Industries
• Siobhan Reddy, Executive Producer & Kareem Ettouney, Art Director, Media Molecule
• Matt Mason, Author, The Pirates Dilemma
• Alice Taylor, Commissioning Editor, Education, Channel 4
• Michael Acton Smith, CEO, Mind Candy
• Derek Robertson, Learning & Teaching Scotland
• Stephen Heppell, heppell.net
• Ewan McIntosh, CEO, NoTosh
• Jonathan Stewart, Consultant Surgeon, Director, Hollier Medical Simulation Centre
• Tim Rylands, Teacher & Innovator
• Tom Chatfield, Author, Fun Inc
• Major Roy Evans, Army, Ministry of Defence
• Dan Giove, Founder, DubSpot
• Sean Brennan, Managing Director, Bethesda Europe

Find out more here.

The Nintendo DS / Gameboy is the biggest selling video game console in history and would be a common item in the school bags of many students.  The problem Nintendo has had is convincing teachers and parents the DS could actually be a learning tool and to give them a reason to get them out of their bags.

The Brain Training Academy series launched somewhat of phenomenon in the portable gaming marketplace and all of the sudden mum, dad and Grandma wanted a DS to sharpen their minds, Play Sudoku and various other puzzle games.  The DS instantly gained some credibility with the intellectual market as a result.

Well Nintendo have obviously taken note of this trend and set to capitalise on it further with the Nintendo DS XL.

The DS XL sports a screen double the size of it's predecessor, (Maybe to help Granny  see here Sudoko a little clearer?) it has built in Brain Training Games, Dictionary and a range of other DS Apps that are aimed at  non traditional gaming markets.  It sports a better camera, improved touch and stylus functionality and still offers all of the web browser and Wi-Fi connectivity of the DSi.

It will be available in March 2010 for what I can only assume will be slightly more expensive or the same as the DSi.  

In light of the recent disappointment of the iPad I am sure Nintendo is hopeful this DS maybe can break into the educational market with it's new features.  Watch this space and I look forward to hearing your feedback.