Foot: Video Games in the Classroom

Playing video games as a part of learning is a great idea. The word “games” it probably what makes this type of learning a hard sell. If we look at a game as Salen sees it, “ as a “designed experience” in which a participant is motivated to achieve a goal while operating inside a prescribed system of boundaries and rules;” then I think we would be more open minded about using games in the classroom. How many times have we said, or heard, that school is boring. As stated in the article, “a 2006 study financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation set out to examine the reasons that almost a third of American public-high-school students fail to graduate with their class. Researchers surveyed high-school dropouts in 25 cities, suburbs and small towns across the country, where they were told again and again that school was boring. The final report recommended, among other things, that educators take steps to “make school more relevant and engaging.” Motivating students is a high priority in teaching them. If using video games (video teaching) motivates students to learn then who can argue is using the games.

 

One major argument would be the costs. It is difficult for cash strapped schools to acquire the video/computer equipment needed. However, the idea is slowly converting some of those who oppose to those who support. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor introduced a web site called iCivics that teaches civics. When government can be convinced that it is a good idea, the money will follow.

 

 I used to play the game Sim City where you build a city complete with buildings, businesses, fire stations, hospitals and everything below. The water system, the power system and the means of getting the power and the water to the city, basically everything you need to run a city. Though it was not used as a teaching tool for me, I learned a lot from playing the game on how a city is built. I can only imagine the mountains of knowledge we could learn by a video game while not getting bored with school.