Are Fancy PPT Games really that Great?

[Darkeru]

They are very effective. I have students who are usually completely silent who'll shout out the answer in English, if it's part of an exciting game.  I try not to use them too often though or they may become used to it.

[chrispchicken]

Really interesting feed and good points made by all.

I go by a general rule. If I can find/think of a game relevant to the lesson that doesn't involve a PPT then I'll go for it. Usually they work, occasionally they don't. You can't win them all. If I can't think/find anything then boom...along comes a delicious looking PPT. The kids maybe see one a month and they get really excited. Less is more.

And for all those people that make the PPT's - Thank you, I'd be lost without you

[astericks]

I have yet to play a single game in my classroom. I don't have the time for games.
Or, I should say, I manage my lessons in a way that does not leave time for games.
My classes are 45 minutes. I usually teach 20-25 minutes, while the remainder is activity time.
I'd enjoy sharing games with my students. I will, once the appropriate time/lesson arises.

[sheedi]

Personally I think ppt gamea are grea.  It is also a good meseasure to see what I taught actually sank in and it gets students who don't normally participate, well participate . I only use them around mid term and final or when I did a hallowween lesson, but it was not an every day or month thing. On another note. I use ppt on a regular basis bc it helps with the visuals. It's kind of hard  explaing some things with out a picture like what is gravy for instance. I don't care if people say "I rely on them too much." Alos just bc I use ppt does not mean I don't interact with my students.  My teachers like them and my students like them bc it is different from a regular lectured class. They are always curious as to what I will teach for next class. Not only do I have pictues, but I have videos as well. PPT is very effective. If you know how to use it to your advantage.

[lizteacher10]

I used many pretty PPTs the first year. I used them to get students interested and it worked. So many bad students or low levels were much more interested and were shouting out answers. Now that they are interested this year, I am making the class more difficult and removing a lot of PPTs.
It matters how you use PPts, they are very effective for peeking interest and fun. But I wouldnt say they are the best for adding depth to the classroom.
I guess I would say, it s process. You should get them interested first before the class gets too hard. Most students hate English by now, and if you check our training guide, its our main job to make English interactive and fun.
And as the first post said, thank you again to all those that make the amazing PPTs. Not riping you down

[jh64487]

And they are also very useful for new teachers who may not have a handle on lesson planning or what works and doesn't work in the classroom.  Even more so if you're given the old "plan your own lessons, do whatever you want, just don't teach from the book" run around.

[foreverJ]

the short answer, for me, is yes!
In an ideal ESL environment, the 'games at the back of the book' (elem) or other such games could be beneficial, but I've never encountered an ideal ESL environment in Korea.
PPT games, whether fancy or plain, save time, and are effective.
I do try to sometimes include a 'real' game, or include a more 'physical' aspect to PPT games, like in pass the ball, etc.

[mnch]

I think they are OK but it's a mistake to rely on them as much as I think people might. I wish I hadn't, but I relied on them a ton when I was starting out, now I rarely use them. I try to keep my class activities a bit more varied, only having whole class PPT games maybe once a lesson, if that. I try to integrate more pair work, small group work and team work in my activities. Some of them are really well made, and I think they're nice but I find the simplest games work the best. I feel like I'd spend half the time explaining the elaborate rules than actually playing the game. But I understand that they've been very useful for other people, so I'm appreciative that people take the time and energy to make such nice games.

[GrenWhit]

Since many think PPT games have the same chasis with different paint/ new skin over the same skeleton...

How could they be made better, more effective, easier to modify?

I'm not certain.  I use PPT to guide my class, but I avoid PPT games for the most part.  I know my concerns, namely that they create language that in some cases actually hinders fluency (one words answers, etc), ans that they tend to restrict individual student talk time.  Where I  do love PPT is at the front of class when I review previous lessons.  It's a great way to shout out and quickly refresh concepts that are secondary to my actual lesson.

[meggie107]

PPT games in my experience so far have been great! This coming from someone who has always been suspicious and challenged in the technological realm; I now have to say I am a firm believer in its usefulness as a teaching tool.

I don't use ppt games all the time, but when I do the whole class participates (which is very unusual in the big middle school where I teach students of varying - some of extremely low - English ability) and they get excited about learning.  I think competition is a great motivator, but so are the graphics - the students just can't wait to see the bomb or typhoon pop up after a team's answer.  They learn different English words ('pass;' 'your time is up!'; 'typhoon' - which has led to a general discussion on weather and weather terminology before, etc, etc)

I think the main issues are that you need to ask thought-provoking, conversational questions, and you need to still be a teacher - facilitate the process of learning through games by adding extra information/asking other questions where necessary, etc. -basically, don't rely ONLY on the ppt.  It is only meant to be a tool - not the teacher.

Also, some of the posters mentioned that it doesn't get their students talking...try to initiate a rule whereby if anyone is caught speaking Korean they get a minus point.  Then play the games in teams, so necessitating discussion amongst team members.  The students will police each other, I assure you! - mine do.  They will do anything to win, and they are constantly telling their classmates 'English-ee, John' (I don't know why, but they always call each other John when they are speaking English...some kind of inside joke!)

 Thank you everyone for the fantastic ppt games - my students love them!   

[LemonWater]

I think they have their place. They're a fun way to close out the lesson, review before an exam, or kill time on one of "extra" days, like after the final exams. Games like bomb or lucky wheel, which incorporate a factor of chance, are nice too in a mixed class, where some students can't even spell their names in English, while others have spent time living in an English speaking country.

I do use them sparingly though. . . When teaching a concept I prefer a more hands on, involved activity. Power point can be overdone and be about as boring as reading out of a book. I still like using the blackboard and paper - it's been the standard for 100s of years, so it shouldn't be disregarded. Plus, if you're hoping to appeal to multiple intelligences, you should try to mix up your routine (and I don't mean just switching between Simpsons, Starcraft, and Mario, versions of bomb every week).