Part of Lesson Plan: Now You See It, Now You Don't: Video Cards and Monitors

Activity Overview / Details

As students come in, leave a message for them on the board for them log onto their computers and  to go ahead and find a game to play on the computer. Tell them they have five minutes to get the best score they can.

Depending on your school and what websites are allowed or blocked, you may have to alter this hook to your needs.  It works best if students can find their own game to play but you can also find websites ahead of time that they are allowed to use.  Another option I have used is games installed on the computer, such as solitare or minesweeper, or I have games in my keyboarding software. Students will need sound (their headsets or ear buds, so they can still hear the sound of the game)

After five minutes, tell students to remember their score and then restart the game.  This time however, they have to play the game with their monitor turned off.  Let them play for a few minutes, seeing how well they can do without seeing what they are doing.  Then have them turn on their monitors and check their scores.  There will be a variety of responses from the class.

Ask the students how well they did without the monitors on.  Ask them how well they can operate their computer without being able to see what they are doing.  Introduce the topic of monitors and video cards.