Saturday, March 1, 2014

Journal Post # 7

What Are the Key Debates About Using Computer Games and Simulations as Learning Resources?


Photo Credit: Game Design Expo 2010's Industry Panel, Flickr

Video games have been around since the early 1940's, and the topic of discussion has long been their ability to help or hurt the mind the its users, particulary children. In the past, many would have voted that computer games do potentially hurt the mind of its users. As we fast forward into the future however, it seems that much of the discussion has turn 180 degrees towards computer games actually helping children to develop effective critical thinking skills. Yeah, this may seem a bit laughable to the skeptical audience whose concern for their youth are targeted on video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, but these types of games are very different from computer games today which have been designed specifically for learning purposes.

I had my skepticism about video games being an effective tool for students in education. Come on, let's reason about this...video games do have a history of violence, do they not? So, I would say for the skeptic that it is o.k. to feel a bit of skepticism about the matter, but I would also encourage the skeptic to keep an open mind about the whole topic. We have some intelligent people out there who are working extremely hard to use modern technology to their children's advantage. Technologies, like children, are our future; and, it would do us very well to focus our efforts on how the two can effectively work together to bring more innovations to our society. Again, we have to keep an open mind about the usages of computer games in education because research is proving that many newly designed video games are helping students to develop better critical thinking skills. Professor David W. Shaffer of Wisconsin, Madison argues that video games help children learn better because it involves them using certain critical thinking skills such as planning and problem-solving. This entire process, he continues, is essential for developing the child's brain and all around decision-making ability. (Boulanger, 2013)

Although research has proven to have shown positive results for computer games within the learning environment, not all spectators would agree with their findings. There are some concerned parents and educators who are arguing against computer games being inside the classroom, stating that they are only harmful distractions to students and that video games can do nothing to develop a students intellectual skill base. (Edwards, Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, & Woolf, 2014)  Whatever the agrument may be, video games are used by a wide percentage of people, especially students from kindergarden to college. It is well documented that computer games have a way of keeping students interest for an extended period of time.

Summary & Connection
Somehow, we must make an effort to invovle games, apps, and software in our students learning because students themselves are more than willing to express how these types of tools are helping them to excel in the learning environment.

Tech Tool:  Zoombinis are a collection of educational puzzle computer games designed to help kids learn critical logic and mathematical thinking skills.

Resources:

Edwards, S., Maloy, R., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., & Woolf, B. (2014) Transforming Learning with New Technologies, Boston, Massachuettes: Pearson

Boulanger, A. (2013) Medical Daily; How Video Games Can Help Children Succeed in School. Retrieved 1 Mar 2014. Web 24 May 2013.









1 comment:

  1. There is definitely a change in the perceptions of games in the lives of children and you address the skepticism well. There are games at either extreme, and obviously the violent ones don't have a place in the classroom (nor in the hands of children at all!), but you are right about the recent emphasis of gaming that emphasizes problem-solving, strategizing, priority and decision-making. These are valuable skills for our new digital world and are often not taught purposefully in our designated curriculum!

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