DEJ #9:10 Things Schools Can Learn from Video Games

Quote:
"It is traditional that schools would teach students to move as fast and efficiently as possible towards a goal, but games are different. They encourage players to sit back, explore and not move on too quickly, think laterally not linearly, and to re-evaluate one’s goals on occasion."


Response: 
I chose the above quote because I agree with it. I feel that sometimes teachers move on to a new subject or skill too quickly. Sometimes students aren't given a chance to explore and have fun learning a skill. For example, sure elementary school students need to learn their multiplication tables. Instead of trying to see how fast the students can memorize them for a quiz, like my teachers did, why not play games or something to help the students have fun with learning. With adding games into education, the students still learn the same concepts and skills. They get to learn them in their own time and get to explore. For example, when I was in fifth or sixth grade, we learned about life on the Oregon Trail. Instead of just talking about it, our teacher let us play the game version so we could learn about it firsthand and explore for ourselves. Exploring events in history or different skills learned in the classroom is a great way to learn and games are an excellent way to explore.


Related Resource:
I found an article from EDUCAUSE Quarterly called Games and Learning that says, "Digital games have the potential to bring play back to the learning experience." The article also argues how games and play can help grow an effective learning environment for reasons such as "They are immersing; require the player to make frequent, important decisions; have clear goals; adapt to each player individually; and involve a social network."


Reference:
  "10 things schools can learn from video games." . N.p., 2012. Web. Retrieved on March 21, 2102 from http://www.learningingaming.com/10-things-schools-can-learn-from-video-games/



Oblinger, D. G. (2006). Games and learning. EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 29(3), Retrieved on March 21 2012 from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/GamesandLearning/157406