| Video games present players with a series of problems, and the player is tasked with solving them in various ways. If we want to teach students problem-solving skills, why can't video games be a part of that? Games can be a foundational part of learning. I grew up playing Oregon Trail and other games that were challenging, but also secretly educational. Gee makes the point that you would not give a student on a video game after they have completed the game, because video games have the assessment already built in, namely, "Did the player effectively use their problem-solving skills to achieve the goal?" |
Gee discusses real-time strategy games, which are the most complicated video games that exist. Strategy games unlock a higher level of thinking that other genres like action platformers or first-person shooters. There are hundreds of different actions involved in playing strategy games, and a countless number of routes that can be taken. The learning curve can be steep, even for adults, but once the initial learning curve is conquered, the player learns to apply problem-solving skills within the game mechanics, to an infinite number of possibilities and directions that the game can unfold. As a history nerd, I have personally learned more about pre-19th century history from playing Paradox's grand strategy games Europa Universalis IV and Crusader Kings II than I ever did in the history classes that I took in high school and college. From a social science perspective, games based on historical events may deviate from our actual historical timeline of events, but the level of understanding and perspective that they can provide about those eras, locations and the individuals involved can outweigh that, in addition to the problem-solving skills that students utilize in the course of the game. Classroom implementation of games like these would also allow for collaboration, competition and reward.
Source:
Gee, J. (n.d.). Games and Education Scholar James Paul Gee on Video Games, Learning, and Literacy. Retrieved March 18, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNfPdaKYOPI
Source:
Gee, J. (n.d.). Games and Education Scholar James Paul Gee on Video Games, Learning, and Literacy. Retrieved March 18, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNfPdaKYOPI