Gaming & Achievement Jami Brandt GMU Hoop Magic Project Team November 16, 2006

Learning Theories that Support GAMING and GAME DESIGN Constructivist Theory Situated Learning Constructionism Learning by Design

Why Gaming and Game Design Works for “Digital Natives”

Digital Games and Game Design: Features: –Clearly defined goals –Variety of challenges –Practice –Immediate feedback –Contextual bridging –Engaging –Motivational –Personalization –Patience What these Features can Teach: –Higher order thinking skills –Practical skills training –Complex decision- making –Reinforcement of rarely used skills –Thorough assessment of a situation and appropriate decision making –Cooperation

Gaming and Game Design Studies Game Design Project (Sixteen 4 th Grade Students) Are Video Game Players Better at Laparoscopic Surgery? (33 Surgeons)

References: Federation of American Scientists (2006, October 17). Summit on Educational Games. Retrieved October 19, 2006, from s.pdf s.pdf Kafai, Yasmin. (1995). Minds in Play. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Kafai, Y. (Ed.) & Resnick, M. (Ed.) Constructionism in Practice: Designing, Thinking, and Learning in a Digital World. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Prensky, Marc. (2006). Don’t Bother Me Mom-I’m Learning! Minnesota: Paragon House. Rosser Jr. MD1, J., Lynch MD1, 2, P., Haskamp BS3, L., Yalif MD1, A., Gentile PhD4,5, D., Giammaria MD, MPH, L. Are Video Game Players Better at Laparoscopic Surgical Tasks? Retrieved November 12, 2006, from ersion.pdf ersion.pdf Tapscott, Don. (1998). Growing Up Digital. New York: The McGraw Hill Company.