The V4T - Videogames 4 Teachers project

Games

Translation:

This Section provides access to an Online database of:
• The best educational Videogames and mobile apps available on the market
• The most suitable Videogames and Apps that, even if not specifically designed for educational purpose, can be used as teaching or learning tools with students

Videogames and apps are categorized, analyzed and assessed in order to provide the teachers with all the necessary information and hints to make full use of the Videogames and Apps in teaching contexts.

Partners' Institution
Hellenic Open University

Author
Vicky Maratou

APPS/VIDEOGAMES

Image source: https://www.facebook.com/Chicktionary/

Product type
Educational App

Name of the videogame/app
Chicktionary

Name of the producer
Ludomade

Year
2014

How to find it
Freemium

Direct link if available
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ludomade.chicktionary

Main technical requirements
Android

Native Virtual Reality Support
No

Single/Multiplayer
Single

Type
Puzzle

Target Audience
6-11 years, 12-17 years

Augmented Reality
No

PEGI Clasification
3

Use in Educational contexts

Degree of required tutoring
Autonomous use by students

Subjects involved
Languages

Other
English

Educational Potential
Chicktionary is a vocabulary app/game that allows players to build words in English. To finish a game, players need to create all of the words from a 7 letter set. Words range from 3 to 10 characters. There are 7 chickens on the screen and by tapping each chicken’s belly, the players begin to build a word and hear a fun clucking sound.
There are three options for play. During Quick play, players have 2 minutes to find as many words as they can. During Classic, players can take their time finding all the words in the puzzle and during Journey players follow a route by unlocking a new game after successfully completing the previous one.
The game does not offer the option to customise the letters nor can the teacher limit the amount of letters in a word. However it provides hints.
Chicktionary can be a fun way for students to learn new vocabulary, recall words that already know whereas it could be an entertaining and engaging alternative to routine spelling exercises.
For non-native English speaking students, this game is appropriate for ages higher than 10 years old.

Learning Object / Suggested activities with students
Chicktionary could be a great practice game and an effective way to keep students engaged in language learning or spelling activities, especially for non-native English speakers, during an English class. Depending on the available devices, students could play Chicktionary individually, working with partners or in small groups. It could be also used after completing classwork on the smartboard as a group activity.
Teachers are advised to try to maintain a list of high Chicktionary scores earned throughout the year as a competition-based motivator for students. Teachers can also participate in order to help/provide hints when students are stuck. Not all words are known, but this can be used to encourage students to look them up in the dictionary.
When using it as a class activity, students can be asked to review the list of possible words they missed and add unfamiliar words to their word notebook. Then, they can use a dictionary (either online or in hard copy) to discover the meaning and use of these words and write sentences using these words.

Skills and competences

Skills and competences acquired
Chicktionary can enrich students' vocabulary in English as well as their word spelling skills.

Soft skills
Critical thinking

Games

APPS/VIDEOGAMES

Use in Educational contexts

Skills and competences

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