Warlick's CoLearners

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Video Games as Learning Engines

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Session Description
“Edutainment” is a word that has frequently been used to describe computer applications designed to make learning fun – and the word has not always been used with the bestintentions. But in recent years, educators are beginning to take a serious look at video games and the video game generation, and to reconsider the role of technology, fun and serious video gaming within the context of formal education. This presentation will provide for educators an overview of various video game genres, some of the latest writings on video games in education, and some spin-off activities that will amaze attendees. The presenter will also attempt to break down some of the characteristics of video gaming that seem to make the practice such a compelling learning experience for youngsters (under 30).

I often deliver this and other presentations in a more open-ended way, sans PowerPoint or Apple Keynote. The presentation slides to the left will provide a structure for reviewing the presentation even in these cases. There is also an outline of the presentation in the panel to the right, which includes links to many of the information resources I share. In addition, you will find a bibliography of most of the resources in the same area.

There are a variety of other says to continue to learn about video games in education, including: DEL.ICIO.US bookmarked sites, Flickr Photos, and Digg News.

Salient Quotes

We're looking at a technology which allows people to drill deeply into subject matter, to explore choice and consequence, to play with complex variables, to simulate real world processes, to create peer-to-peer teaching opportunities, to create an immersive and highly motivating mode of learning -- and all of that if enormously valuable for learning in the k12 classroom.
Henry Jenkins
Director of
Comparative Media MIT
The great thing about video games is that it puts people in a world where they can connect language to actions, to images, and to talk -- so they don't just get words for words, they get images and actions and dialog for words. And they learn how to use those words in context and they know how to use those words for problem solving and problem solution.
James Paul Gee
Tashia Morgridge Professor
of Reading at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Salient Points

Types of Video Games

  • Platformer
  • Adventure
  • Role-playing game (RPG)
    • MMORPG
    • MMOSG
  • Sports
  • Racing
  • Action
    • Fighting
    • Shooting
      • First person shooter (FPS)
      • Third person shooter
  • Puzzle
  • Simulation
  • Strategy game
    • Turn-based
    • Real-time (RTS)
  • Stealth-based game

Wagner's Ideas about What People Learning Playing Video Games

  • Adaptability
  • Self direction
  • Risk taking
  • Interactive communication
  • Prioritizing
  • Planning and
  • Managing for results

John Beck's Overview Characteristics of Video Game Generation

  • Competitive
  • Risk Taking
  • Sociable
  • Believe in the Roll of Luck
  • Self-confident

Henry James Contexts of Video Games

  • Homework Assignments
  • Field Trips
  • Collaborations
  • Demonstrations
  • Assessment

Successful Commercial Video Games with Educational Value

  • SIM City
  • The SIMS
  • Civilization
  • Age of Empires
  • Flight Simulators
  • Zoo Tycoon
  • RollerCoaster Tycone

Warlick's Elements of the Video Game Experiences that Might be integrated in the Classroom

  • Responsiveness
  • Conversable Rewards
  • Personal Investment
  • Identity Building
  • Dependability

Good First Steps

  • Start a gaming club in your school
  • Your students are a huge enthusiastic resource…allow them to talk about it and to teach you
  • Connect with the serious game effort http://www.seriousgames.org/
  • Recruit the Digital Natives in your faculty
  • Pay attention to the Key Players -- Pay attention to your players…

Some Blogs about Education & Video Games

This page will list weblogs that mention "video", "games" and "warlick". If you will be blogging a review or simply sharing your insights about the ideas of this session, please include the words "video", "games" and "warlick" in the text of the article.

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