Quote One:
"It is the interactive and multimodal features of computer games that have been proposed as being particularly powerful in regard to learning."
Reaction to Quote One:
Computer games are interactive and multimodal; these two characteristics are powerful in learning. I believe all teachers strive to have an "interactive" classroom and "interactive" lesson. Why not explore how computer games can make that possible or assist?
Quote Two:
"The fact that children, adolescents and adults learn important lessons about themselves and their surroundings by engaging in game-like activities is uncontroversial. Throughout social and behavioural science discourse on social and cognitive development, gameplay is regarded as an important arena for the development and formation of thinking, identities, values and norms (Cole, 1996; Piaget, 1951; Rogoff, 1990)."
Reaction to Quote Two:
This quote helps disprove the thought that games do not belong in the curriculum. Gameplay is an important arena for the development of not just thinking, but identities, values, and norms. I teach middle school where students really start developing their identity. If gameplay can help develop something as crucial as identity, then I am interested in incorporating it.
Quote Three:
"By paying serious attention to how players make sense of what they do, including the resources they draw on in the process, I believe that we as educational researchers can provide more realistic accounts of what computer gaming is about, how computer games might be used in order to facilitate learning in schools, and what, in fact, people learn when engaged in activities of computer game play."
Reaction to Quote Three:
I think that this is important to focus on. Are players just memorizing(short-term) codes or patterns to get through a game, or is there a deeper understanding at play? Do different games involve different processes? I do believe that some game design could be extremely beneficial to the learning in our schools, but in the same respect: it is important to remember that not all computer games will produce educational benefits. The educational benefits of engaging in activities of computer game play DO EXIST, though!
Additional Resource:
I found an awesome Prezi Presentation that someone created entitled: "Playing to Learn Math?" (embedded below).
I would really love to see the creator of this presentation present it, but go ahead and read through it. Very valid points are made and I felt it really corresponded with the article.
That was an awesome Prezi. I wonder how long it took to make it :)
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I agree with your statement that not all computer games with produce educational benefits. It is important when incorporating gameplay into curriculum that the game actually teaches the concept you are trying to get across.
It sometimes amazes me how what we get out of anothers person's thoughts and comments is not what they were presenting on the surface. For instance, your resource took me in a totally different direction. I agree that I would like to hear this presented, which took me to thinking about the use of sound in games and other multi-media projects. I tend to not use sound enough - - -this resource would be EXCELLENT with a voice over giving the lecture that goes with it. I kept wanting to turn up the volume.
ReplyDeleteWOW.....what a great presentation - I really enjoyed it. I agree it would be great to see her present this. I also kept wanting to turn up the volume!
ReplyDeleteInteresting quotes. I agree with your reflection on your first quote, games are interactive and multimodal. I know I try to make my classroom/lessons interactive. I know if I had computers in my room I would defiantly have my students on them exploring the many games out there to help reinforce many chemistry topics. I think your second quote backs up your first; games can and should be part of the curriculum because they are a great way to involve the students in an interactive, creative, fun way. I completely agree about the importance of the last quote you chose. I feel that in order to succeed in a game, the player, must have an understanding of the purpose of them game. If that purpose is education then it can be a very useful tool. Not all games are beneficial to education, but beneficial games do exist.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your resource. I agree that listening to the presenter would be beneficial, but also just view the presentation was nice. This defiantly fits in with this week’s reading.
Thanks for sharing!