| The Next Evolution of Video Games in the Classroom |
| posted by: Ruthie | July 29, 2013, 04:28 PM |
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The paper in question is part of what is known as the ENGAGE project, the aim of which is to “develop, implement, and evaluate a narrative-centered, game-based learning environment that will be deployed in middle school for teaching computer science principles.” In other words, they want to create a video game that is not just part of the curriculum, but is the curriculum for computer science.
This is just part of a larger movement of incorporating video games into the classroom. Using a computer game to teach is nothing new, as anyone who can remember dying from dysentery on the Oregon Trail can attest. What is new, however, is the prominence and the mode with which they are being incorporated.
More and more, video games are being shifted from being just add-ons to a curriculum already created to being central to them, nor are these games that you necessarily think of as being educational. Games that are popular in their own right such as Minecraft, World of Warcraft, and Portal are all finding themselves at the center of new curriculums. Then there are games that are specifically created for use in the classroom, like Playfic, which helps students write. Proponents of using video game-centric curriculum point out that not only do video games point out that well-crafted games are both inherently motivational, but also encourage complex thinking skills and are built on mastery learning strategies. This is where ENGAGE re-enters the scene. The researchers weren’t looking at whether or not a video game should be used, they’ve already come to the conclusion that the best way to teach is through a video game. The researchers are exploring how to make the best possible video game in this subject area.
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