Gaming Today While Learning for Tomorrow

Web 2.0: Today’s Technologies, Tomorrow’s Learning by Jennifer Groff and Jason Haas

When I read this article, I immediately became a fan. Why not bring what students are comfortable and accustomed to inside the classroom? Video games are starting to hold a new purpose - allow students to experience situations that would not normally be permitted or physically permissible in the confines of a small classroom. According to the article, there are video games that deal with forest fire, evolution, and diplomacy. In such video games, students are capable of observing the damage forest fires can cause , and what effect they have on the surrounding environment. Students are able to observe evolution first hand without having to wait generations to examine the evidence and results. Also in diplomacy games, students can role play as they rule their own country while trying to negotiate with other diplomats (their classmates). Other games permit students to live in poverty, while trying to make real life decisions such as education, careers, purchases and healthcare. I believe that these video games will one day be an essential tool in the classroom. Role playing games are capable of giving students a real-life scenario and allowing them to solve problems where there is no “one correct answer.” These games also teach conceptual knowledge while allowing students to negotiate with one another and themselves. Tomorrow, video games will instigate students to learn cause and effect, how to prioritize, science and other life lessons that educators often find difficult to communicate. I believe that video games such as these have the potential to be very educational.

I would love to incorporate video games into the classroom. I remember playing a computer game called The Oregon Trail when I was an elementary student, and I enjoyed it. Playing a game and learning about the Oregon Trail was much more impacting than having a teacher lecture on the topic. I experienced starvation, disease, and wariness all because of a game - and I still remember it to this day. This is why I would allow students to play a video game in my classroom, while adapting the lesson. First, I would have students use the internet to research the time era, and history of the location and people in the video game so that they would have a better understanding of where their character in the game is coming from. I would then permit students to play the game for maybe 45 minutes, two times per week. At the end of each 45 minute period, I would split students into groups so that they may reflect on the choices they had to make, and how that impacted what had occurred. Students would share their results, and discuss what they might have done differently, knowing the impact their choice had. I would also, ask the students to discuss what was going on around them, and if that had any impact on the decisions they did or did not make. I would have students reflect on what they learned, etc. Afterwards, I would open the questions up for a class discussion, so that the class may be familiar with the other scenarios that took place. I feel that a video game could be a useful tool when teaching a subject that is hard to communicate, or if it would be more beneficial for the students to have a first-hand experience in that subject area. My only concern is that video games may be expensive; however I feel the outcome would be worthwhile.