Using Video Games Using Video Games to Teachto Teach

four approachesfour approaches

Video Games are BadVideo Games are Bad

• Video games have acquired a lousy reputation Video games have acquired a lousy reputation with many peoplewith many people• They’re violentThey’re violent• They’re mindlessThey’re mindless• They’re addictiveThey’re addictive

• All true!All true!

Violence Example: Modern Violence Example: Modern Warfare 2Warfare 2

Mindlessness Example: Mindlessness Example: Bejeweled BlitzBejeweled Blitz

Addictiveness Example: Addictiveness Example: World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft

So What?So What?

• Problems with specific games ≠ problems Problems with specific games ≠ problems with all gameswith all games

• Some of these criticisms are also true of:Some of these criticisms are also true of:• the webthe web• TVTV• moviesmovies

• Games are a toolGames are a tool

Proper Tool Use: A Proper Tool Use: A CounterexampleCounterexample

One MoreOne More

Video Games are Video Games are EducationalEducational

• Gaming is a new kind of literacy (Gee)Gaming is a new kind of literacy (Gee)

• Games incorporate good pedagogy (Gee)Games incorporate good pedagogy (Gee)

• Digital natives learn differently (Prensky)Digital natives learn differently (Prensky)

• Games are highly persuasive (Bogost)Games are highly persuasive (Bogost)

• We know games can be used to teach We know games can be used to teach because we’ve been doing it for almost 40 because we’ve been doing it for almost 40 yearsyears

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail

How to Teach with How to Teach with GamesGames

• Content-aligned gamesContent-aligned games

• Games as textsGames as texts

• Students making gamesStudents making games

• Classes as gamesClasses as games

Teaching with Content-Teaching with Content-Aligned GamesAligned Games

• What is content alignment? Simple examples:What is content alignment? Simple examples:• ““I’m a math teacher. I need a game that teaches I’m a math teacher. I need a game that teaches

the students how to do the order of operations.”the students how to do the order of operations.”• ““I’m a history teacher. I need a game about the I’m a history teacher. I need a game about the

Civil Rights movement.”Civil Rights movement.”

Content Alignment: Content Alignment: Number MunchersNumber Munchers

Content Alignment: Content Alignment: Epistemic GamesEpistemic Games

• EpistemologyEpistemology• ““a branch of philosophy that investigates the a branch of philosophy that investigates the

origin, nature, methods, and limits of human origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge.” —Random House Dictionaryknowledge.” —Random House Dictionary

• Epistemic games encourage players to think Epistemic games encourage players to think like experts in a fieldlike experts in a field

• Other epistemic activities:Other epistemic activities:• School paperSchool paper• Model UNModel UN

Epistemic Game Example: Epistemic Game Example: Civilization 4Civilization 4

Content Alignment: Content Alignment: ChallengesChallenges

• There aren’t games about many subjectsThere aren’t games about many subjects• Games that DO contain educational information Games that DO contain educational information

may not be appropriatemay not be appropriate

• Games don’t always represent accurate Games don’t always represent accurate informationinformation

• Educators don’t have the resources or Educators don’t have the resources or expertise to create their own gamesexpertise to create their own games

Will Wright Example: Will Wright Example: SimCitySimCity

Will Wright Example: Will Wright Example: The SimsThe Sims

Will Wright Example: Will Wright Example: SporeSpore

Games as TextsGames as Texts

• Non-written texts are taught all the timeNon-written texts are taught all the time• Movies, TV, plays, radio, etc.Movies, TV, plays, radio, etc.

• How to do this?How to do this?• Games that tell stories worth tellingGames that tell stories worth telling• Games that reinforce traditional literacy skillsGames that reinforce traditional literacy skills• Games leading students to traditional mediaGames leading students to traditional media

Games as Texts Example: Games as Texts Example: BioShockBioShock

Games as Texts Example: Games as Texts Example: BioShockBioShock

Games as Texts Example: Games as Texts Example: Neverwinter NightsNeverwinter Nights

Games as Texts Example: Games as Texts Example: Halo NovelsHalo Novels

Students Making Students Making GamesGames

• Wait, what?Wait, what?• Small is OKSmall is OK• Making ≠ playingMaking ≠ playing• Modding is makingModding is making

• Why do this?Why do this?• Allows students to demonstrate content masteryAllows students to demonstrate content mastery• Technical skillsTechnical skills• Builds digital literacyBuilds digital literacy

• Not easy to doNot easy to do

Students Making Games Students Making Games Example: Simple GamesExample: Simple Games

Students Making Games Students Making Games Example: Simple GamesExample: Simple Games

Students Making Games: Students Making Games: Neverwinter NightsNeverwinter Nights

Students Making Games Students Making Games Example: ScriptEaseExample: ScriptEase

Game-Like Course Game-Like Course DesignDesign

• Games reflect pedagogy, so can pedagogy Games reflect pedagogy, so can pedagogy reflect game design?reflect game design?

• How to do this?How to do this?• Difficulty levelDifficulty level• RetryRetry• Gated progressGated progress• Hint system/tutorial/walkthroughHint system/tutorial/walkthrough• NarrativeNarrative• High scoreHigh score

• Does it work?Does it work?

The Educational Games The Educational Games Database (TEGD)Database (TEGD)

• Teachers need gaming literacy to do any of Teachers need gaming literacy to do any of this stuff wellthis stuff well

• http://tegd.arizona.eduhttp://tegd.arizona.edu

• maxl@email.arizona.edu maxl@email.arizona.edu

• Max LiebermanMax Lieberman

Suggested Web GamesSuggested Web Games

• Budget Hero (US federal budget strategy game) — Budget Hero (US federal budget strategy game) — http://marketplace.publicradio.org/features/budget_hero/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/features/budget_hero/

• Lunar Colony (economics strategy game) — Lunar Colony (economics strategy game) — http://www.leftbraingames.com/Games/LunarC.htmlhttp://www.leftbraingames.com/Games/LunarC.html

• Climate Challenge (environmental policy strategy game) — Climate Challenge (environmental policy strategy game) — http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/climate_challenhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/climate_challenge/ge/

• Bow Street Runner (history adventure game) — Bow Street Runner (history adventure game) — http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/C/city-of-vice/game/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/C/city-of-vice/game/bow-street-runner/game.html bow-street-runner/game.html

• Ayiti: the Cost of Life (3Ayiti: the Cost of Life (3rdrd-world simulation) — -world simulation) — http://ayiti.newzcrew.org/globalkids/http://ayiti.newzcrew.org/globalkids/

• Jamestown Online Adventure (history strategy game) — Jamestown Online Adventure (history strategy game) — http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/ http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/