Most people today have an incorrect view of educational video games. When most people think of video games they imagine scenarios of fighting, shooting, killing, and high-speed racing - all with a hint of sex! Because sex and violence are so explicitly evident, in so many of today's popular video games, it seems natural to disapprove of video games for learning. However, a closer look into some of these games reveals an astonishingly complex architecture, designed to promote learning.
A tremendous amount of research and work has gone into the learning principles embedded within great video games. In their simplest sense, games provide a fun, rewarding, and meaningful experience for the players - usually targeted towards achieving some sort of goal, although not always the case. In their more complex form, games are developed with the intent of using psychological learning techniques to teach and/or reinforce a skill or concept. From military training to business practice, many organisations have begun using games as an expedient and engaging training method. Parents and educational facilities can, and should, take advantage of the great learning principles found in video games, in order to make learning a subject fun, rewarding, and understandable - qualities that many feel that is lacking in education today.
The fact is, parents today are seeing some pretty big benefits for their children in using educational software. For example, there is "TuxPaint," a free & open-source software package that gives elementary school children a chance to practice their math facts in a fun way. There are also two other related packages, "TuxPaint," (www.tuxpaint.org) a free drawing program, and "TuxType" (www.tux4kids.com< SPAN lang=EN>), a free typing tutor. Even adults have been known to enjoy playing with these programs!
Educational Video Games can teach both children and adults. Games like the 'God of War' series and the new 'Tomb Raider' games encourage you to learn about Greek Mythology. Whenever you happen upon a boss battle in 'God of War' you will be asked a question, such as "Who was Perseus?" or "Why is he here?", and then you must answer as best you can. If you don't know the answer, you will probably find it on Google. One of the levels in 'Tomb Raider Anniversary' involves set pieces and trap rooms based on various myths, including one labelled as 'Damocles' Trap', in which swords fall from the ceiling and stab up through sections of the floor in a predetermined order. The point is, if you're not familiar with the myth of Damocles, beforehand, then you can look it up in Google and/or Wikipedia and learn about it in a reasonably quick time. The act of 'researching' the facts for yourself is a mental re-enforcement.
Students surveyed said that learning via video games would help them better understand difficult concepts, become more engaged in the subject matter and practice skills. A story in eSchool News, "Students want more use of gaming technology", provides a new look at the trend. There are three Florida counties using a video game, called DimensionM, from Tabula Digita.
DimensionMâ„¢ is an immersive video game world that engages students in the instruction and learning of mathematics. Pre-algebra and algebra objectives are covered through a series of missions that bring math into a world that today's students understand. Students become so captivated in solving problems that they forget they're learning but they don't forget what they've learned.
There's little doubt that educational video games can be a useful tool to maximise learning. Www.gamesforchange.com is a good place to start, if you want to learn more about the future of Serious Educational Video Games.
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