Gaming in the Classroom

I would have LOVED school even more so if I got to learn through video games! I have always been a fan of video games and think that children learn A TON from them. Not only are they learning how to problem solve and strategize but the games are also flooded with text, plot, history and more! I remember one of my friends' little brother (about 5 years old) using words like "dexterity", "stamina" and "endurance" and understanding what they all meant because he had to check the levels of his video game characters and maintain their status. I was blown away! It is learning that is authentic and easy for children and it truly stays with them---they are not just reciting facts over and over again in class and then regurgitating them onto paper on the test. Video games can be used in several ways to enhance the classroom experience.

In the video with James Gee, he brings up numerous advantages of video games in the classroom setting. He discusses how children, as well as adults, like to work collaboratively and how video games can be a "social collaboration" where the group is smarter than the smartest person in the group and how students can learn from one another while engaging in a group game. Also, video games are continuously assessing knowledge and skill which encourages the player to learn from his/her mistakes and correct them in order to move on. Finally, video games create community and subgroups that students can be an important part and maintain a sense of purpose and fulfill a specific role. These are all aspects that are just icing on the cake! The idea that video games can be successful learning tools AND fun is obvious and should certainly be utilized to their fullest potential. Educators would be doing a great disservice to their students if they chose not to implement video games into schools.

I think video games can compliment "traditional" education in a very beneficial way. Currently at the elementary school I work in, we use an online program called "Study Island". It is fully based on the Oregon Standards of education and provides students with lessons and assessments. The students MUST answer the questions correctly in order to play the games. Their scores are saved and ranked among other students in the school and across the state. They become very motivated to get the highest score and continually strive to do better on the "tests" and practice at the various games. It has been such a huge success with the classes that have used it and now our school is purchasing a school license and a classroom set of laptops that can be used by students. I have had the opportunity to witness just how effective these tools can be in classrooms and I am certainly inspired by it and would LOVE to be able to implement similar methods in my future class.

I think the idea of video games being TOO "edutainment" is ludicrous. Learning can and SHOULD be fun! As long as they are being used effectively and there is obvious growth with the students, teachers should embrace the idea of video games. Kids love them. Why not make learning something that can be exciting and engaging? I am envious of this generation and like I said, I would have loved to use video games to learn from in school.

I cannot wait to see what the future holds for education. I feel as though we are going to see extreme change and growth and it is inspiring and exciting! EMBRACE the change---do not hinder it!