“For whenever one plays a game, and whatever game one plays, learning happens constantly, whether the players want it to, and are aware of it, or not.
Learning without knowing, may be one of the best methods to teach a new concept. When students hear that they will be learning something new or difficult, they will sometimes give up before they try and/ or complain they don’t want to learn it. So if students are doing something they like, such as playing a game, they will be learning without even realizing it.
“And the more a game’s content “simulates” anything in the real world, the more one learns about how to do things in that world.”
As teachers, we have learned that if a student learns a concept that connects to a real-life situation, it will make the learning more relevant to them; they will be able to better apply and retain that knowledge. Students will be able to understand that they may use the concept they are learning about everyday day or at some point in their life.
“Players learn through their games to handle cultural relativity, and to deal with different people and roles.”
Some games introduce people and/or creatures that are different from them. The player has to learn about the other people/ creatures in order to succeed. This skill is similar to students learning about each others’ differences and backgrounds. I believe this skill will also lead to students making good moral decisions in the game and in the real world.
Prensky, M. (2002). What kid's learn that is positive from playing video games. Retrieved from https://online.fairmontstate.edu/webct/urw/lc15057011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct
This website lists good aspects of video games that parents should be looking for when they are purchasing video games for their kids. This website also lists other articles, blogs, and educational games.
Media awareness network. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/video_games/choosing_videogames.cfm
Excellent response in relation to assigning our students content based on authentic situations or real-word connections. We want our students to make personal connections to text, images, sounds, etc... so, finding media that is relevant to students will foster engagement and therefore learning.
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