An interesting article about video games in today’s issue of USA Today states…
The Federation of American Scientists — which typically weighs in on matters of nuclear weaponry and government secrecy — declared Tuesday that video games can redefine education…the theory is that games teach skills that employers want: analytical thinking, team building, multitasking and problem-solving under duress. Unlike humans, the games never lose patience. And they are second nature to many kids.
This idea is not new. Marc Prensky has been promoting it for over five years and has written several books about the link between games and learning. Chris Dede from Harvard has been designing engaging virtual environments to teach science concepts, with the financial support of the National Science Foundation. And there are others. If you want to read more about the educational implications for gaming, here’s an article from Edutopia.
What is it about games that keep kids engaged? What makes them learn from games? How can our teaching capitalize on what we know about games? And should it?
