Gaming

What is the tool? Gaming

How can it be used? One uses a preexisting software game and apply its game-face to some aspect of the curriculum. For example say a civics class was learning about city growth and development. The instructor can use the game Simcity4 to help show a visual representation of the city as it develops. Many modern games come with built in game modification features to allow the user to develop their own scenario within the game. The teacher can build or use a preexisting game modification or mod to help in the aid of teaching. Another example is Civilization a history or geography teacher can utilize this game to teach about different time periods in human civilization.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this tool? Advantages: Exciting computer simulations to stimulate the students, challenges students to make educated decisions and apply the implications to real world situations, a different approach to teaching lecture style, and hands on interactive. Disadvantages: potentially expensive, demands multiple computers, teacher must learn the software in depth, limited software availability, and some students may not like computer games or find the games ‘boring.’

Who is the audience for this tool? The students are the primary audience since they will be the ones using it.

Where can we learn more about this tool? This is an active blog from Classroom2.0 about gaming in the classroom. This is a wiki that was setup to help educate teacher on the potentials of gaming in the classroom. & This is a online article about the expansion of computer gaming entering into the classroom.

What is your opinion on the usefulness of this tool? I believe this tool has some use but has a limited age range and subject base. Games can be fun and entertaining for students and teachers can capitalize on this by relating the curriculum to the game interface