Bingo is a popular and easy to learn game that is widely played around the world. Most people of course play the game for social reasons, but the game is increasingly being applied and adapted to educational uses, particularly in schools.
The main reasons why bingo is being used in this way is that it is fun, has simple game mechanics, can be easily be adapted in multiple ways, and does not require expensive materials, specialist equipment, or unusual resources that are out of reach to most educators.
In some situations, for example, for students learning English as a foreign language (EFL), simply playing the game can be an educational experience in itself. In EFL class, simply explaining and learning how to play the game, in English, can be a challenge for students.
More commonly however, teachers adapt the game to their classes and the particular subject they are teaching. For example, in a math class, the bingo squares might be printed with math problems instead of numbers, and students are required to solve the problems in squares rather than simply mark off squares. In a language learning class, the squares on the bingo cards might be printed with Spanish, French, German or Italian words (instead of numbers), and the students would be required to find the matching squares when the teacher calls out words in English.
The common element to many educational versions of bingo is the use of customized bingo cards – that is to say bingo cards printed with items of the teacher’s choice whether they be Spanish words, math problems, or anything else. Creating such bingo cards would be a tedious and time consuming task, but with the help of a computer and bingo card maker software is a breeze – simply enter a list of items that can appear on the bingo cards and the computer can easily print as many cards as you want.
By: Sunil Tanna
There are many kinds of ways bingo games are played. One of them is the multi-part bingo game. In this game, each bingo jackpot features three parts. This means that players are in for a three-winner game. Each of these winners gets a guaranteed cash prize each. Multi-part bingo often begins with a simple pattern. The winner gets a corresponding prize. As the game moves on to the next two levels, the difficulty of the pattern increases, but so do the prizes. A person lucky enough to win in the three parts gets the total jackpot money.
Bingo games are organized most of the time by gaming facilities or by communities to raise funds for charitable institutions. The players donate by buying the bingo cards. Thus, the more games you have played, the more you have donated to charity. These games also feature cash prizes for the winners to attract more donors.
But communities such as neighborhoods, associations, and other civic groups and affiliations, organize free bingo games too. They do this to foster community spirit and to facilitate interaction among their members. A bingo social is also a great venue to get everyone to have some good, clean fun.
Free bingo games are also played online. With slight adjustments to the ones played in bingo halls, online bingo games are exciting and thrilling too. Although the prizes are virtual jackpots, the thought of just hitting it can be exciting. What’s better is that you are in the comfort of your home while playing the game. You do not have to venture out just to play your favorite game. And even while traveling, you can still play the game and not miss out playing for the jackpot. From your laptop or notebook, you can join the game while waiting for next flight or while having your coffee.
By: Thomas Morva
As with any game bingo too has its own set of terms that are commonly used. In this article I will attempt to familiarize you with the common bingo terms you are inevitably going to encounter.
One player: When a player is one number away from winning.
Bingo board: This is the board that displays a random set of numbers, instead of the numbers being called out. This board is usually very large so everyone playing the game can easily view it.
Buy in and minimum buy in: The minimum number of cards that qualify you as a player of the game. The buy in varies with each game. Minimum buy-in is the least amount of money that you will need to spend if you want to enter the game and be counted among one of the contenders for the prize up for grabs.
Caller: This person is an important part of the game however he or she does not play the game. The caller is a person that calls out the numbers as the numbered are drawn.
Coverall: This type of bingo game requires that all the numbers on the bingo card be covered in order to win. This type of bingo is not commonly played.
Dauber: In order to mark the numbers on the bingo card easily a pen with a thick foam tip is used. This pen is called a dauber and is thick enough to mark the whole number easily.
Bingo booklet: This bingo booklet has a number of sheets depending on the game. Each sheet is a different color. These sheets are organized in sequence in which the game will be played.
Six-pack and nine-pack: The number of numbers on a bingo card during a specific game.
Wrap up: This usually means the end of a game. Bingo is played at many times of the day and for each time there is a specific name for example: moonlight bingo which commences with the moon is seen. And the early bird game that starts very early in the morning.
Bingo terminology is fairly easy to pickup as with any other game in bingo you will have to utilize these terms in order to be a respected player. A learner you might forget or substitute the term for another word. But that’s ok as long as you have fun and make lots of friends in the process.
By: Andrew Fullard
