The Power of Game Based Learning

6-8th Grade School #6, Elizabeth NJ

Why Digital Games?1. Research

Over the last decade dozens of books, articles, and essays have proven to have positive benefits for digital games

2. Disengagement for Traditional Instruction The “Digital Natives” now require multiple streams of

instruction, frequent quick interactions

3. Popularity The digital gaming industry is a $10 billion dollar

industry

Hours Spent Playing Video Games

Effects on Extracurricular Activities

try new activities in the comfort of their home

learn about sport strategies and the rules of the game

develops confidence in sport skills from winning virtual victories and are more willing to try the actual sport

raises confidence which reflect into the real game

Students are able to….

Guidance in the Digital Age

When?

With Whom?

Under what conditions?

Three Important Questions to Consider:

Digital Guidance…The Gate Keepers…

Almost all games have parental controls

These controls must be developed when the game is first set up

Parents/Teachers have the option to set a password and settings

Purposeful Restrictions Use game ratings to determine

appropriateness

Decide who they can play/connect with online Restrict playing with strangers

Time limits Mindful limits

Games Offer Other Parental Features …

Block: decide who children can play with

Mute: eliminate the chat option

Monitor: some games allow you to log in and check on child’s account

Speak Up: any uncomfortable interaction can be reported to the game administrator

Games Offer Situated Cognition

Games Have: Well established principles Modules for learning

Students must: Directly relate to environment in the game and then learn

and demonstrate the skills Apply skills and practice within game Games are learned via modeling not direct instruction

Any learning done in a meaningful context has more relevance to learning

What Makes a Game Educational?

Assimilation: using prior information to form a hypothesis

Accommodation: being able to realize the hypothesis is wrong and create a new one

Resolution: solve the problem

When games have these factors constantly embedded it is said to be educational.

What Makes a Game Fun Continued…

Challenge and StrategyDifferent ways to win and earn points

Element of Surprise Variations

Replay Ability Playing the game with different outcomes each

time

What Makes a Game Educational?

New informationEducational information is provided in text or

graphics

Memorization Being able to recall events from previous stages in

the game

What Makes A Game Educational Continued..

Context and Cognition Putting new information into use

Gender and Ethnic Balance Offers character gender options or language

diversity

Types of Educational Games

Management Games uses critical thinking and math skills to create a

business

Role Playing Games Based on exploration and quest completion Requires reading dialog, directions, inventory,

maps, and decision making

Game Types Continued..

Strategy Games Includes skills most scientists use today Discovers how things work or don’t work Creating something newReplaying old history

Main Genre of Video Games

http://www.duelinganalogs.com/infographic/conceptual-map-of-the-main-genres-of-video-games/

Parent Involvement Play Games With Your Child

Create a family experience Connect no matter the location

Don’t be Afraid to Say NoKeep rating in mind for content

Allow Your Child to Show/Tell About the GameCreate projects using game characters to expand

learningExample: journal from characters perspective

Parent Involvement Continued…

Ask Questions Create conversation and dialog with children Ask higher order thinking questions using the

characters “Can you relate these heroes to any others?

Keep Gaming System in the Family Room Games now have clans BondingLocations don’t matter connect via internet

Using Games as a Teaching Tool…

Perseverance Kids fail at games all the time but always try againStudents can be reminded they can pick up and

keep trying just like in a game

Acknowledging AchievementVideo games praise children for a job well done

activity points, a bonus, or unlock secrets

Working Together You must collaborate to solve

problems

Using Games as a Teaching Tool

Healthy Competitiveness

IndependenceKids can figure out the game with subtle hints from

the game

Piques InterestStudents are exposed to historic cultures and worlds

they don’t knowPrompts students to research further A drive to be better

Conclusion…Digital gaming has gained in popularity and has a large

market which can benefit education.

Games can pique students’ interests in different histories and topics they have not been exposed to before.

Parents or teachers can set controls to ensure that students are not exposed to questionable elements in the game.

Virtual games can offer socialization opportunities.

If selected appropriately, games can offer great educational benefits.

Sources

Gibson, Jayel. “Are Video Games Educational?” Feb 28, 2008. Education.com 2006. 6/15/15 http://setonworldwide.ecollege.com/re/DotNextLaunch.asp courseid=11528617&userid=33963325&sessionid=cf6f141aeb&tabid=EfyQHCxeGuBX3yk83yCYr977N7eNKXoZ9kvbNiCr+ySeNM+TAspoxA/3yda/fAx3&sessionFirstAuthStore=true&macid=L81l/FrPJaat5byiAfRyyMnTNkCAezhThQT5aGByvBaBY/rQMklimAWZn8OL2/o+hPw+c/oeQh0Lon+R+bCrJL//QAh3fcBNnKslfNDtxKwXjmN0PkpAHCfVQbhHXdybySwfwTxwNMOzXM25+eUJNarcCR1ICP++GeNdoxwOBABhk68VAL+zFUcBcGBNT82wkB8fmGano3PUTAmnfRynjXWGrFlgoNvz3sBKZWpxhEM=

Berkowicz, Jill and Myers, Ann. “Summertime Video Gaming” Education Week, June 17, 2015, Editorial Projects in Education. 6/15/15 http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/leadership_360/2014/06/summertime_video_gaming.html?qs=video+game+benefits

“8 Ways Video Games Can be Educational” Education.com 2006. 6/15/15

“Do Video Games Have Parental Controls?” Education.com 2006. http://www.education.com/facts/quickfacts-video-games/videogames-parental-controls/

Toporek, Bryan. “Sports-Related Video Games Linked to Children's Participation in Athletics” Education Week, August 26, 2014. Editorial Projects in Education. 6/15/15 http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/schooled_in_sports/2014/08/sports related_video_games_linked_to_childrens_participation_in_athletics.html?qs=video+games