Research on Learning with Media John B Black Teachers College Columbia University

Learning Academic Content from Video Games A Lot of Hype Around Video Games as Learning Environments Interested in Using Games to Master Academic Content Not Just Playing Game We Studied Two Popular Games with Academic Content – –Civilization –Sim City

Civilization

Sim City

Civ/Sim Study Recruited “experts” in either Civilization or Sim City From Online Discussion Boards of the Games (179 completed -- 9 were girls, high school) They Participated Online Chosen so that Civilization Experts were Sim City novices and vice versa – but all expert game players

Civ/Sim Study (2) “Pre-Test” on academic content from game and from college text to be read Read the college text for other content “Post-Test” on academic content from text Questions focused on – propositions (facts) procedures (condition—action) images (pictures and maps) systems (if one entity changes how do other entities change)

Conclusions Game Experts showed no initial direct learning from their playing of the game compared to non- experts But Game Experts Showed Better Preparation for Future Learning on all four knowledge types Thus, Playing Games May Provide Experiential Base That Makes Later Formal Academic Learning More Meaningful

Learning from Business Simulation Game and TV Show Students Played a Business Simulation for Entrepreneurship Several Times (HBS) Minimal Learning from Just Game Play Get Most Learning When Asked Reflective Questions About Strategies and Relating to Background Readings Similar Findings in Earlier Study of Learning from Watching Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV Show

Learning From Physical Science Simulations Created Our Own Simple Graphic Simulation Games for Physical Science (Middle School) One Example is Roller Coaster Simulation for Kinetic and Potential Energy Looked at Student Learning from Several Types of Learning Support Materials— Text, Text+Diagrams, Animated Movie, Slide Show, DMA Animation

Roller Coaster Simulation

Direct Manipulation Animation and Grounded (Embodied) Cognition DMA (Direct Manipulation Animation) Worked Best for Memory and Problem Solving Simple Example of Embodied Cognition Reasoning by Perceptual Simulation in Addition to Symbolically (Feel in addition to Know) New Generation of Simulations and Games Use Motion Sensors for This (Wii, Guitar Hero – Augmented Reality)

Using Media for Learning To Provide Experiences to Ground Formal Symbolic Learning To Provide Experiences for Reflection and Relation to Background Readings Full Perceptual Experience (Embodiment) in Initial Learning Provides Feel (Imagine Perceptual Simulation) in Addition to Knowing (Dan McVeigh Presentation on Young McDonald’s Farm is Another Example of This)