OK, well it’s been a little while since I posted last, so I thought I’d better give a little update.
I have some thoughts on some aspects of “gaming” in education that have been running though my mind lately, but I’m not sure where to begin. I am running short on time this morning, so I’m going to think a little more and do a “real” post on Friday. In the meantime, let me pose a request and see if anyone reads this, and cares enough to leave a comment. OK so here goes… please name one “console game” that can be used for learning. Please include the game name, console, and what it can be used for or simply comment on the one below.
To get the ball rolling I’ll go first.
Paper Mario, Wii virtual console (N64). My son (he’s almost seven) loves this game. He, however, like many boys his age, does not enjoy reading, and complains when we have him read to us, but this game has a lot of reading, and I mean, a lot of reading. It’s mostly at his level . . once in a while we have to help him with a word . . and I’d say that it’s very similar to if we had him read a comic book, except that it’s interactive. There is also a lot of decision making and higher order thinking going on. The best part about this is that he is limited to 30 minutes of TV time a day (including this). He can earn another 30 minutes by doing “talking to mom time.” Talking to mom time comprises of him actually reading a real book, and/or working on his writing for 30 minutes with my wife (she teaches HS). He begs to do this “talking to mom time” so he can play Paper Mario, which is mostly reading, decision making, problem solving, etc.
So would a game like this have a place IN school? What are your thoughts?
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July 25th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Antonio,
I have got to say that I am not, and neither are the rest of my family members, much in to gaming. We allow our children 1 hour of screen time a day. And my son, who is 7, loves to go on the computer. He does play games at miniclips.com, These games at miniclips are not educational at all. I have told him about websites like iknowthat.com, which are educational games. I guess I kinda hate the fact that he would choose a mindless, non-educational game over a game that challenges him mentally. Although I hate it, I kinda feel like it is his time and he can spend it as he wants, of course with in reason. This is just one of the many gray areas of parenthood. Gaming, in my opinion, will not revolutionize the classroom anywhere near as much as the photocopier has. I am not against serious games in school. They will have to fit into the state standards and I wish they would create change in the way students learn.
Rick Weinberg
July 26th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Antonio, I just want you to know that I picked up this discussion on my blog. Now, If I could just figure out this html for the hyperlinking.