Serious Games in Education

The use of technology-driven games in education is an interesting topic. For this tech savvy generation it just might be the way to engage more learners, immerse them in learning, and assess skills such as problem solving, application of prior knowledge, and connections with real world situations. Research suggests students learn 75% to 90% more when they are doing the work, rather than listening to a lecture. (www.futurelab.org.uk/projects/games-in-education, 14) This applies to “doing” computer simulations and games which require the learner to predict, solve, and comprehend the nuances of the game.

Serious games is defined as one which is thought out and intentional about its use in education more than its benefits of amusement. It is expected the game will be entertaining and appealing, but it is more important for the game to reach learning targets and goals. (24-25) Examples of serious games would be Edutainment, Simulations, Games for Change, Games for Good, Immersive Learning, Educational Games. The topic is wide and diverse which meets the needs and attentions of a diverse student population. Although there are different definitions of a serious game, most researchers conclude the game must have a “learning model embedded, the content is integrated into the game to learning is intrinsic to play, and the assessment of learning may be integral to the game or occur through mediation around the game”. (27)

In the article Why Games & Learning at www.instituteofplay.org the author suggests games offer the player an opportunity to be a risk taker, experience failure, and find solutions to problems. While these are added benefits of game playing, I wonder if they are transferable to real world problems and situations requiring an element of risk or the opportunity to re-attack once failure has been experienced. If it is a transferable skill, then gaming is an excellent tool for not only teaching to the learning targets, but also for developing lifelong learning skills outside of academia.

I appreciated the author of the Edutopia blog entitled Game-based Learning in Practice, Matthew Farber. His actions to include game-based learning in the classroom resulted in motivating and encouraging students in the learning environment. I most appreciated his use of non-computer based games and computer based games. Although I am learning more about how to integrate technology in the classroom, it is important to offer opportunities for students to unplug and interact with others in a more personal, meaningful way.

 

While researching serious game options for the classroom I found BrainRush.com. This site appeals to me first off because it is free! As an educator, I could spend money on many wonderful things and experiences for my classroom, but when something comes along and its free...I want to jump on it. Apart from this BrainRush.com offers gaming experiences which are already complete or a template to design your own game for the needs in your classroom. The ultimate "selling point" is the ability to track student progress. This information is invaluable for a teacher and is often tedious. BrainRush.com makes it easy for the teacher and because it is accessible on the iPad, it is even more accessible to the students. I can envision using this site to design games for sight words, letter recognition, and simple math problems.