As you may know, gaming
can spark the attention of any age group; however, educational gaming is a
creative tool to use to persuade students into learning. Educators who utilize
gaming in their instruction know that students are learning and it is enjoyable.
Recent findings from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), nearly two-thirds of households in
the USA play video games, and since 1999, the percentage of gamers older than
50 has more than tripled. Researchers have stated that games use new
technologies to incorporate principles crucial to human cognitive learning. Games
can assist students in using their working memory, improving their abstract
reasoning and problem-solving skills, and being creative in cognitive skills.
Educational gaming is
also beneficial because it allows students to be interactive in their learning
rather than the traditional classroom structure and lecture.
Students like competitive learning because everyone wants to be a winner. Educational
gaming allows students to be actively engaged and it promotes student involvement
in learning. Students who participate in gaming have an essential desire to win;
therefore, the students are learning to master the skills needed to succeed. Students
are able to interact with gaming material in a practical fashion, instead of
simply being presented with the information and asked to retain it.
Gaming promotes teamwork in
students and that is a vital tool needed for success in postsecondary education
and in the workforce. This method helps students to reach a central goal or
solve a problem as a team. In the real world, we often have to work with people
we don't like, just like in classroom games, where we are not always teamed
with our friends. As students engage in game play through their education, they
develop the skills necessary to be a good sportsman. Win or lose, students are
still receiving the knowledge or skills to become successful while
participating in educational gaming.
Educational gaming is a great
problem solving skill. In my tenth grade history class, I allowed the students
to solve cases on the First48 website. The students in my community are already
tuned in to this reality series and why should I allow them to use an educational
game that interest them. If students become accustom to solving complex
problems, it helps them to become critical thinkers.
Fallin, I too believe in healthy competition in the classroom. Providing students with games and challenges help promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and critical thinking, on top of learning the subject matter. Learning is about exploring and growing. Students may do so in a gaming atmosphere by being presented with problems involving subject matter, working with others, and communication. All of these things are also needed in day-to-day life, and skills that will support these students as the go into the real world.
ReplyDeleteI too am a huge fan on the TV series, the First 48. When I read that they had an interactive website, I could not wait to check it out. Just as I am excited about things such as the website, our students need to do the same. Finding games and competitions that relate to the students and the subject matter help students to become more involved and engaged in their learning.
Video games are obviously engaging for students. If there are video games that cover required content and teach 21st century skills, then schools should be looking into this. I think it would be a great way to discover, practice, reinforce and apply content while also building team work and problem solving skills. However, I do not think video games should be the main source of learning. There should always be a good balance of virtual world and real world. Team work and problem solving skills should be applied to virtual world as well as real world. The same is true for all skills and knowledge. We must ensure that our students develop essential 21st skills for digital citizenship, but not forget basic skills for real life.
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