I make no qualms about it, I was a huge gamer in my youth, probably all the way until my early 20’s. Most games have little to no educational value, yes they may help with special awareness and some hand eye coordination, but in reality, most were, well, games. Now this is not to say […]
Continue reading A Couple of Games From my Youth Posted in: Uncategorized, Week 05: Game-Based Learning
I chose to play a number of the games that seemed to all put you in a first-person context. The first game that I played was the game Spent. Spent was a pretty well crafted game that was quite short and based on a number of decisions as a single parent that has lost everything. […]
Continue reading Games Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
I gave Spent a try too…and was wiped out financially in about 3 minutes…I see the point they are making about trying to make a living on minimum wage – I can see this being quite beneficial for those students who drop out of school before graduating because they got the “great job” at minimum wage – having no clue how much everything costs…But what disengaged me was the fact that the reason I was wiped out financially was because I didn’t pay for health insurance – very U.S. oriented. However, I then needed dental work and couldn’t afford it so I lived with the pain…a real-life experience. I found that my university bound students were much more intrigued with SimCity games where the development of a city or society required much more complex thinking and problem solving.
As I am reading other posts, I am recalling long-forgotten games, not necessarily for me…my experience with games consists of Space Invaders (yes, that old) and Pong…but I do recall buying “educational” games for my kids, although the quality was definitely not that experienced today. I remember Mario Brothers – and yes, my kids learning […]
Continue reading My flashback Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
You are quite right about how reading other posts help you remember so many other games. Your post just reminded me of using Mavis beacon to learn touch typing. What made interesting for me was the way the practice tests were designed like games. I must say that it was an added incentive for me to learn touch typing.
I guess your adult sons have a good point abut the adrenaline rush and losing oneself for some time. I sure saw that more in my male colleagues at work and this makes me wonder if males are more inclined to play these computer games than females. i must say that I was surprised to see that the percentage of male and female gamers was quite close.
Males are designed for games it seems. On a regular basis on campus males can be identified lost in games when they should be in class. It was just the other day a first grader asked if he could see my cell. I showed him and in a few seconds he was in the game menu searching for a game to play. I was amazed at the ease at which he manipulated the games as I was clueless to them.
Hi Everton,
My 3 year old nephew grabs an iPad and is navigating his way through folders to find the games that he likes best with ease. He is actually pretty good at it and even gets the concept of Tetris and how to stack the blocks so that it lasts. He has also gotten quite good at getting to youtube and using the recently played videos to find all of the Elmo and Old McDonald videos he can find… it’s amazing.
Kristopher
Kris,
They are really tech-savvy. This is just their thing. It amazes me at the rate they are able to master these games and problem-solve. Educators should take cues from these exploits and set up similar activities that will challenge our boys as they are usually the ones falling back in the classes.
Everton
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Juliana 8:21 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi David,
I liked how you brought up “disguised education”. I think it is quite amazing what we learn, when we have no intention of learning and good educational games have a way of exploiting this.
Great post!
Juliana.
jenaca 6:13 am on October 10, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Adding to what you both said, I really liked the way you identified the learning without really even knowing it- “disguised education”. I think this is a great way to help kids have fun and actually enjoy learning.
Jen
Jay 9:34 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi David. I remember “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego” and was glued to that game as a child. I am sure it spawned my love and curiousity for other countries, travel and culture and as a kid I lived virtual adventures and exotic trips to places around the world through that game.
As to tetris, was terrible at that game and never had the patience (or spacial awareness) to stack awkwardly shaped blocks together. Felt too much like work more than play. Never really was a puzzle person.
Everton Walker 1:54 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
David,
Good job! Would you classify all games as being educational since they elicit thinking and awareness? Shouldn’t we redefine educational and incorporate features that are required for one to function successfully in educational settings?
Everton
khenry 7:09 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Everton,
I believe that some redefinition or redesign would be highly beneficial. The reading on Prensky’s Digital Natives (http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf) is interesting regarding a redefinition of education and instructional design.
Kerry-Ann
hall 5:55 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I enjoyed reading your post. I remember playing TETRIS, it is a wonderful game and useful one for mathematics and science students. It can be used to teach shapes and patterns.
khenry 7:03 pm on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi David,
I remember Tetris but was not as hooked, funnily Conroy since I like Math and Science. User Interface design I wonder? But I did enjoy ‘Where in the World is Carmen San Diego’. Like Everton I also wonder at the educational aspects of gaming from what they elicit.
Kerry-Ann