I agree on your discussions and yes video games can provide lot of help in education purposes also. There are many good games that focus on use of skills thereby increasing the mental ability of the students.
I agree on your points and sure it's a very good thing to combine video games with education tools. It will facilitate some good examples of knowledge into practical use and also some skill oriented game offers some good brain exercises.
Yes that's the best combination, there are so many things that can be taught very well through the help of video games. Education is just not a single entity and if some practical thing can be initialized then it'll sure to teach in the best way and students will grab lot of information from it.
Video games are clearly an effective tool of engagement, just as TV and Film were when they became mainstream. Games however are interactive, which involves more engagement then simply watching television or a movie. To me this means that video games actually have a greater potential to be used as effective teaching tool. If you look games coming out for the Wii there are many games that are thought provoking and substantial. I think this will only increase as tine goes on.
I have taught computer science for over 20 years so I support technology as a tool. However, I had a discussion with a student regarding an observation he made of his children after playing a well known Math tutor game. He saw that all his children were at the highest level of the game. He took ten of the problems from the game and presented them to his children on paper and they could not complete the calculation.
Our conclusion was that they had learned the visual connection between the question and answer to earn the highest score, but did not comprehend the dynamics of the math process.
I would say yes. Videogaming increases an important skill. That skill is Hand-Eye Coordination. When you drive your car you need good hand-eye coordination to be a safe driver. Driving involves watching the road while using your hands to steer. Hand-eye coordination also affects your reflexes. Slow reflexes may result in a possible injury.
Does not exist, in text books, in video games, podcasts, cell phones or any other "buzz" gadget people wish to throw into the mix. The question is redundant unless you can define effective teaching within a frame that fits. I challenge anyone to do that.
Learning comes from engagement with hands on projects that are relevant to the students lives. It matters not whether this is a stick with a hoop (Physical Sciences), to a walk in the park looking at caterpillars (Biology), to creating their own personal calendar using technology or playing an educational game to teach math.
The tool does not come first, the need does. The tool will stand up to evaluation upon use! However, we as educators, have to make sure that the lines are not blurred between educational tools for learning and games for crowd control!
So let us not argue over which tool is the best, I loved playing "Cops and Robbers" when I was a kid, I too watched television. At school I wasn't allowed to watch crime TV shows but often saw well constructed educational films. The TV was not the issue but the content.
As educators that should be our focus delivering good quality, relevant material, to those young minds in a multitude of ways and formats, so that we maximize those we can reach.
That's a quick & easy. Give the kid's an electronic gismo on any level & they will put all their energy into it.
There is a fine line here. Are we babysitting via techonology or teaching?
Where have all the story teller's gone? Gone to ________ Everyone, When will we
ever________________________________
Who is asking the questions? Who is modeling social communication skills? How are personsonal & interactive peer group lessons guided? When does Creative talents & ideas come into play, on a vocal level?
Least but not last,the almighty $ determinds the reality of schools who have such equipment.
Utopia still awaits,public school's in the good old USA.
I'm glad to see someone reference Scratch in this discussion. Scratch is a very awesome program -- developed by the geniuses at MIT -- that lets kids learn the back-end of games. Scratch is fun and teaches kids at the same time. Viva education tech games!
I have been thinking about games and education and serious games, for a very long time. From this post I was able to find Scratch, at MIT and Cooties from Eliot Soloway, Alice 2.O and a whole host of other types of games to teach and then even more. The people I was collaborating with were not even interested. Too bad. Bonnie
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I agree on your discussions
I agree on your discussions and yes video games can provide lot of help in education purposes also. There are many good games that focus on use of skills thereby increasing the mental ability of the students.
I agree on your points and
I agree on your points and sure it's a very good thing to combine video games with education tools. It will facilitate some good examples of knowledge into practical use and also some skill oriented game offers some good brain exercises.
Yes that's the best
Yes that's the best combination, there are so many things that can be taught very well through the help of video games. Education is just not a single entity and if some practical thing can be initialized then it'll sure to teach in the best way and students will grab lot of information from it.
Video Games Are Today What TV & Film Was 50 Years Ago
Video games are clearly an effective tool of engagement, just as TV and Film were when they became mainstream. Games however are interactive, which involves more engagement then simply watching television or a movie. To me this means that video games actually have a greater potential to be used as effective teaching tool. If you look games coming out for the Wii there are many games that are thought provoking and substantial. I think this will only increase as tine goes on.
Concerns with Video Games as a Teaching Tool
I have taught computer science for over 20 years so I support technology as a tool. However, I had a discussion with a student regarding an observation he made of his children after playing a well known Math tutor game. He saw that all his children were at the highest level of the game. He took ten of the problems from the game and presented them to his children on paper and they could not complete the calculation.
Our conclusion was that they had learned the visual connection between the question and answer to earn the highest score, but did not comprehend the dynamics of the math process.
Videogaming increases important skill
I would say yes. Videogaming increases an important skill. That skill is Hand-Eye Coordination. When you drive your car you need good hand-eye coordination to be a safe driver. Driving involves watching the road while using your hands to steer. Hand-eye coordination also affects your reflexes. Slow reflexes may result in a possible injury.
The Silver Bullet
Does not exist, in text books, in video games, podcasts, cell phones or any other "buzz" gadget people wish to throw into the mix. The question is redundant unless you can define effective teaching within a frame that fits. I challenge anyone to do that.
Learning comes from engagement with hands on projects that are relevant to the students lives. It matters not whether this is a stick with a hoop (Physical Sciences), to a walk in the park looking at caterpillars (Biology), to creating their own personal calendar using technology or playing an educational game to teach math.
The tool does not come first, the need does. The tool will stand up to evaluation upon use! However, we as educators, have to make sure that the lines are not blurred between educational tools for learning and games for crowd control!
So let us not argue over which tool is the best, I loved playing "Cops and Robbers" when I was a kid, I too watched television. At school I wasn't allowed to watch crime TV shows but often saw well constructed educational films. The TV was not the issue but the content.
As educators that should be our focus delivering good quality, relevant material, to those young minds in a multitude of ways and formats, so that we maximize those we can reach.
Are computer & video games effective teaching tools?
That's a quick & easy. Give the kid's an electronic gismo on any level & they will put all their energy into it.
There is a fine line here. Are we babysitting via techonology or teaching?
Where have all the story teller's gone? Gone to ________ Everyone, When will we
ever________________________________
Who is asking the questions? Who is modeling social communication skills? How are personsonal & interactive peer group lessons guided? When does Creative talents & ideas come into play, on a vocal level?
Least but not last,the almighty $ determinds the reality of schools who have such equipment.
Utopia still awaits,public school's in the good old USA.
Aloha
Scratch
I'm glad to see someone reference Scratch in this discussion. Scratch is a very awesome program -- developed by the geniuses at MIT -- that lets kids learn the back-end of games. Scratch is fun and teaches kids at the same time. Viva education tech games!
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