This article nicely summarizes so much of why video games, while being both cool and fun, are an awesome learning tool. One thing that the article mentions is how learning at different speeds is allowed in games. I loved that during my own childhood. I took to many things quickly, including typing. I was many levels ahead and not restrained by my classmates who took longer than I did - a common frustration of mine during childhood. This article also discusses that games can be made to teach any subject. While educational games exist, more are needed. Many already allow you to interact with astronomy, biology, botany, and so many other topics. As the topics grow, the students can learn.
As a child, I played Oregon Trail, the Amazon Trail, Sim City, had an interactive encyclopedia that had a little video game quiz, a French language game, and learned to type from Mario in our computer lab in elementary school. Several of these games are listed here, in a list of some historical educational games that influenced how we learned. My teacher paired early American history and manifest destiny with Oregon Trail. The game let us experience some of the harsh conditions and troubles faced by early settlers. It made the topic more interesting because it came alive for us. Although they were small and virtual, our little people often died of dysentery or died while making a decision to forge the river. Rarely, did even some members of the party make it across the trail. I enjoyed the game, but I learned. I learned by interacting with the game, by the lessons of my teacher, and it is one of the few specific things I remember from my grade school classrooms because it was memorable and enjoyable. Mario was my typing teacher, I learned more about geography from Carmen Sandiego, and had a game existed about all of the United States Presidents - I might have a better knowledge of the Presidents between #9 and #31 (with a few notable exceptions, of course).
Will gaming be a new standard in education? This video, with Jonathan Schenker, argues that students are already playing video games and incorporating education into the video games is something essential. Schenker's argument for "well-designed computer games" is something that could make "serious learning enjoyable" and helps students by giving individualized attention that they would not normally receive because of class size. He also argues that failure is extremely beneficial and that "experience is the best teacher." I absolutely agree with this statement because I am willing to take chances with failure in a game that I would not in a classroom. It is embarrassing to try something new that may blow up in your face
In the video, Jonathan Schenker also mentions Pokemon, a game that I love and spent an embarrassing number of hours on as a child. Pokemon is a complicated universe and the many different creatures have many levels and interactions. Each benefits from certain environments, has boosts, weaknesses, and works best when paired with certain creatures and others are their kryptonite. If the game used real world elements, would it have been any different? I would have been entertained, and my understanding of chemistry would probably be better.
Another similarity that Jonathan Schenker mentions is typing and other clan skills. I did learn to type in elementary school, my speed came from gaming. For several years, I played an online game and I was a clan leader. My typing speed was needed to keep up and to advance our clan. It was essential to our success. I became faster and better, because I was required to be better. Typing for a job or career will eventually give you the same skills. I went in with those skills because of my game.
The video also addresses the barriers to gaming, so many of which older educators need to change their perceptions. Some video games can be violent, many are not. Some are mindless, many others are challenging and complicated. Schenker also discusses simulations, a game class that I adore. I love exploring and understanding the world around me. Gaming allows me to do this. If educators understand how gaming helps students, of all ages learn, we can progress.
We may be a ways off from interactive helmets like the one that Lisa Simpson imagines where she has a personal tour from Genghis Khan, but hopefully we can learn how to integrate games to teach students in a way that is fun, engaging, and meaningful to them. Everyone would benefit. Teachers would be able to reach every student in a way that they can't always in current classrooms. The educational system would benefit by increased student learning and engagement. The students would feel the largest benefit - additional learning.
Lisa with her interactive helmet
Genghis Khan taking Lisa on a tour
The technology exists. Everyone would benefit. Now comes the difficult task of pushing forward something that will change our very understanding of classrooms and learning.
What an excellent post and it is interesting to finally be getting some students who have some real gaming experience. In fact, some of the games you mentioned were the ones I used to have in the middle school labs I taught in so you could have been one of my very early students. Probably you are not that old though. Love the pics and your last comment that this is "something that could change our very understanding of classrooms and learning." It is already changing how we view and understand learning since games hold students attention more so than the traditional methods in a classroom. We should be asking ourselves, how can we inc. some of the same elements and motivational features of games into our classrooms? And of course, as time moves on and we see more online learning, I think game integration will be a natural effect of that.
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