Quote: " The most explicit level of learning that takes place as one plays a video or computer game is that one is learning how to do something. As one plays one learns, gradually or quickly, the moves of the game – how the various characters, pieces, or anything else operate and what you can make them do. One learns how to drag tiles to build up a virtual city or theme park. One learns how to virtually fight and protect oneself. One learns how to train a creature and make it evolve. And of course one learns the physical manipulations of the controllers involved in doing all this."
After reading this article, I could easily see learning targets written for students with "I" statements: I will learn how to manipulate tile and enhance mental spatial processing. I will learn how to rotate and flip tiles. I will learn how to establish patterns for tile placement. I will learn how to cooperate with other players. I will learn how to use the arrow keys on a keyboard. If we think about games in our classrooms and break the games down into learning targets, then possibly we can identify the intended outcomes.
With Pentominoes, you learn how to manipulate tiles using the keyboard.
Quote: "At the second level players learn about what to do in any particular game (and, equally important, what not to do). In other words, they learn the rules. The rules of any game teach you what is possible and/or doable in that environment, and video and computer games are no exception."
Learning by trial and error is definitely the theme of video games. When playing a board game, I read all of the directions and then explain the entire section of rules before playing. But, when immersed in a video game, it's all about diving right in and playing levels and finding out what to do next to succeed. Again, students are not usually afforded the opportunity to try and try again in a traditional classroom environment. You often hear students talking about the rules. So, I feel this gives them a sense of what is fair or unfair. With Pentominoes, it's about moving and placing tiles repeatedly until you achieve success.
Quote: "The third level is learning why. Players learn the strategy of a game as they play it. (Strategy, of course, depends on, and flows from, the rules.)"
As part of comprehension strategies, we teach our students: The 5 w's and h, (who, what, where, when, why and how). So why not use this strategies with games? When students understand the "why" they are analyzing and evaluating. There are also other comprehension strategies involved: compare and contrast, sequence, and cause and effect. Of course, a real-life lesson in this situation would be setting goals.
Reference: What Kids Learn that's Positive from Playing Video Games. (n.d.).www.marcprensky.com. Retrieved February 17, 2012, from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/prensky%20-%20what%20kids%20learn%20thats%2
Related Resource:
"Most games involve a huge number of mental tasks, and playing can boost any one of them. Fast-paced, action-packed video games have been shown, in separate studies, to boost visual acuity, spatial perception, and the ability to pick out objects in a scene. Complex, strategy-based games can improve other cognitive skills, including working memory and reasoning."
I find the scientific research behind video games intriguing. The medical profession often guides the "older generation" to play games, work puzzles, etc... to improve or continue memory functions. Should we be saying this about kids too?
Anthes, E. (2009, October 12). In Boston.com. Retrieved February 17, 2012, from http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/10/12/how_video_games_are_good_for_the_brain/
Excellent comment about student's ability to try again and again in a video game, but not in the classroom. I think this is why students are able to master video games with ease, but have a harder time completing school work, especially tests. When I was in school, if I had been given the opportunity to try again and again, I would've been motivated to re-learn the material to earn a higher grade, rather than just accepting the score of the test and moving on, only to forget about the material learned.
ReplyDeleteI love the article you linked. Especially the beginning. No it isn't because I have particular political leanings one way or the other, but I think it just goes to show that politicians in general try to sound well educated and learned when it comes to education, but often come up woefully short. I just wonder sometimes, if these politicians have advisors, where are their education advisors. President Obama stated that video games should be "put away". But I'm afraid the casual student in our country is not going to give up their entertainment staple of gaming just because their president said to do so. IF that is the case, perhaps we should not tell them to put them away, but explore ways to fully integrate gaming into education as a way to connect to students. As the law states, "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND". IF a child enjoys games, then use them to teach those children. It is well known that each child learns in different ways, why not include gaming?
ReplyDeleteI really like your method of breaking the video games down into learning targets in order to clearly identify the intended outcomes. Laying out and defining the learning roles that each game element provides is a great way to show students, parents, and fellow educators that video games do provide a positive and resourceful learning experience.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I really love what you mentioned about learning by trial and error. In my opinion, the best way to learn is by jumping right in and trying. I agree, video games are great in the sense that they allow the player to have a second chance when they do not succeed the first time; the real world often does not. Video games provide us with a way to practice learning and gain realistic life experiences.
I liked your link very much also. I picked a quote from the article that I though was interesting. "The very structure of video games makes them ideal tools for brain training." This is so true because the elements that make up video games challenge the player mentally, physically, and emotionally; the are beneficial to the educational processes from every learning standpoint.
Trial and error is important in all aspects of life. It is a shame that teachers sometime have to move on, even if the students don't fully understand what they were taught. I also enjoyed the link you provided. I find myself playing games that help boost memory and other skills.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great discussion! It's unfortunate that politicians have to say what they think the public wants to hear, which is that video games are bad bad bad for kids. I find it interesting that while Obama made that statement the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy,had hired a game designer and educational researcher to shape the Obama administration's policies around games that improve health, education, civic engagement and the environment, among other areas. You can find the article at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-01-26/edcuational-video-games-white-house/52908052/1
I agree that you learn a lot by trial and error. Video games give you experience that enables you to master the game and know what to do and what not to do to win. I also liked your article "How Video Games Are Good For The Brain", interesting.
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