Game-Based Learning Flashbacks
I don’t remember a time growing up when I didn’t have a computer in my house. I have flashbacks of being 4 – 5 years old and even earlier playing computer games. My parents realized very early on the influence digital game-based learning could have and as such we played a variety of different educational computer games.
There are three educational games that I remember playing constantly, more specifically I can remember their names! The first being Reader Rabbit (the first edition) which taught reading and spelling;
Treasure Mountain which taught reading, math and logic skills;
And finally, thanks to “Mario Teaches Typing” I have great typing skills
today. 🙂
References
Case, A. (Photographer). (201o). Super Solvers – Treasure Mountain_1.jpg 320×200 pixels [Photograph], Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/caseorganic/5639284605/
Chris. (Photographer). (20o5). Mario Teaches Typing, 1992 [Photograph], Retrieved October 3, 2011, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/spike55151/27458117/
Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
Julie S 1:39 pm on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Your post sounds like a true digital native experience! I’m a digital immigrant so your post about growing up with digital games is very interesting to me.
I had no idea that there was a “Mario Teaches Typing” game. I first learned typing in high school on an old beat up typewriter. Later in University I used a typing program on a Macintosh. I did far better using the game. This is probably because I loved the game whereas I hated to go to typing class because it was so boring. Great examples!
jarvise 1:46 pm on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Your typing game flashback reminds me of the typing game I played in high school – it was kind of like a space invaders game for typing. It was extremely low-tech, but still fun. I just went online to see if I could find anything about it, and didn’t, but found this site with tons of typing games:
http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/games/
Emily
ifeoma 5:50 pm on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Ashley,
Interesting post, i think Julie S must be right in saying you are a digital native. I guess like JulieS, i would also be a digital migrant (i like the terminology). I guess typing was a major skill required of anyone who wanted to use computer technology to write. I am almost sure every computer user at some point had to use some typing tutor. I used Mavis beacon myself and the practice tests were designed like word games. i must say that it made learning touch typing fun for me even though I would say it could have been a case of trying to teach an old dog a new trick 🙂
Karen Jones 6:55 pm on October 3, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
LOL, Ifeoma, you totally made me laugh and cringe at the mention of “Mavis Beacon”. That was our alternate school’s earliest foray into using computers and games with our ADHD students. Ya, apparently, they weren’t as sold on the idea as the adults, and we had to threaten them with duct tape to keep them typing at the computer for more than about 15 minutes, let alone the whole class.
KJ
Everton Walker 6:20 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I never grew up with computers so I was not exposed to gaming from an early age. Maybe that’s the reason I am not big on games now. Even at college when my friends were engaged in playing games I would be doing something else. Slowly but surely I am changing as I now see the power of gaming as it relates to education and learning.
hall 3:06 am on October 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
As a child I did not have access to computers but I frequently played Nintendo games which I found very enjoyable. I remember as a child I would save my lunch money in order to buy tokens at a well known games room so as to play the available games. I have missed important activities and domestic chores as result of being endowed in playing games as a child.
Deb Kim 3:13 pm on October 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I love Mario games by Nintendo. It’s been there since I was young and I’ve enjoyed playing it with my brother. The game was first introduced to me by my cousin from Japan. Then, my father bought a 3D Nintendo for my brother who was really good at finding “stars”. I was truly amazed by the 3D Mario game that I wanted to become a 3D animation or game designer one day. Although it was a dream that I dreamt as a teenager, I still love to play any of the Mario games, including Mario Cart. They are so much fun!
Deb