Welcome

Welcome to Jeff Ertzberger's Emerging Technologies Games and Utilities web site. The materials located here are designed to enhance education through the use of technology.

A recent study found that close to 60% of teachers would like to use video games in their classrooms (Future Lab Press Release, 2006). In another study, teachers and parents recognized that video games can support valuable skill development such as: strategic-thinking, planning, communication, application of numbers, and negotiating skills (McFarlane, Sparrowhawk, & Heald, 2002). With so much desire amongst parents and teachers to use video games in the classroom the question is why are so few teachers actually using video games in their classrooms?

While I have no hard data to back it up, my experience tells me that teachers do not use video games because the games do not directly match their curriculum, and they are too hard to create. I do believe teachers would use video games that were easy to create, matched to their curriculum, and proved to be motivational. Thus the rationale for these tools. I have tried to create templates for games, using Microsoft Office, that teachers can download and quickly modify to match any curriculum.

All materials found on this site may be used for on-profit educational settings. All rights for any trademark or copyright protected items in the presentations are maintained by their respective owners.

If you improve it, I ask that you send it back to me with your improvements so that I can share it with others. You will be given credit for your improvements. If your improvements include media such as: clip art, pictures, sounds, etc be sure that you obtain permission to use and distribute those before sending it to me.

Thanks to Microsoft Innovative Teachers newsletter for recognizing me as their first "Great Ideas" contest winner.