Teaching with Video Games Jennelle Kesteloot (Richie) Madonna University RDG 5410

NYU Child Study Center “the typical American child watches 28 hours of television a week and by the age of 18 will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence” WOW! That’s a huge number!

According to the NYC Child Study Center PROS “first-person” shooter games (military training) “first-person” shooter games (military training) High level of quick gratification High level of quick gratification Enhance motor coordination and ability to think quickly Enhance motor coordination and ability to think quickly Stress relief Stress relief Relate to one another via healthy competition Relate to one another via healthy competitionCONS Violence in the games Violence in the games “first-person” shooter games (violence) “first-person” shooter games (violence) Takes away from school work Takes away from school work Excessive play Excessive play Over stimulated Over stimulated Likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways Likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways PROS “first-person” shooter games (military training) “first-person” shooter games (military training) High level of quick gratification High level of quick gratification Enhance motor coordination and ability to think quickly Enhance motor coordination and ability to think quickly Stress relief Stress relief Relate to one another via healthy competition Relate to one another via healthy competition CONS Violence in the games Violence in the games “first-person” shooter games (violence) “first-person” shooter games (violence) Takes away from school work Takes away from school work Excessive play Excessive play Over stimulated Over stimulated Likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways Likely to behave in aggressive or harmful waysPROS “first-person” shooter games (military training) “first-person” shooter games (military training) High level of quick gratification High level of quick gratification Enhance motor coordination and ability to think quickly Enhance motor coordination and ability to think quickly Stress relief Stress relief Relate to one another via healthy competition Relate to one another via healthy competition

According to Want to Know It… PROS Visual acuity Visual acuity Social activity Social activity Teach more about life (virtual games) Teach more about life (virtual games) Problem solving and logic skills Problem solving and logic skills Assist in education Assist in education Increase attention span Increase attention span Fun Fun Reasonable workout (Wii) Reasonable workout (Wii)CONS Addiction Addiction Does not constitute a proper physical workout Does not constitute a proper physical workout Desensitized to violence Desensitized to violence False expectations of real life False expectations of real life

Evolution of Video Games My how technology has changed…

NYU and Want to Know It… Have valid arguments in regards to video games Have valid arguments in regards to video games There are many positive and negative aspects of them There are many positive and negative aspects of them My opinion: Playing video games at home can be ok (I do it sometimes). However, parents need to be involved and aware of what their child is playing (each game has an age level rating on it) and not use it as a babysitter.

Educational Learning Games Your Baby Can Read! Leap Frog Tag Reader

Educational Learning There are many educational learning games out there There are many educational learning games out there They are rated highly by teachers They are rated highly by teachers Children can learn while playing (without realizing they are) Children can learn while playing (without realizing they are) Children as young as a few months can use these programs Children as young as a few months can use these programs

Educational Learning Each system costs money (plus additional fees for books, etc.) Each system costs money (plus additional fees for books, etc.) Used in moderation, can be successful Used in moderation, can be successful My Opinion: These are great extensions for parents to use to help their child learn. However, I have seen these used as a babysitter where the child is just pressing random buttons instead of following the directions (age wise, they would have been able to follow along). In my eyes, it takes the place of one-on-one interaction with the parents when used this way. With batteries, they can go anywhere With batteries, they can go anywhere Teaches children letters, sounds, colors, shapes, etc. Teaches children letters, sounds, colors, shapes, etc.

Four Ways to Teach with Video Games 1) Games that Teach Content Align with existing school curriculum Align with existing school curriculum Students naturally learn better while using technology Students naturally learn better while using technology There are too few games built around school-appropriate content* There are too few games built around school-appropriate content* “creating a good game is hard enough; creating one based on educational content is even harder” (legendary game designer Will Wright) “creating a good game is hard enough; creating one based on educational content is even harder” (legendary game designer Will Wright) *1971 – three student teachers created the classic educational game The Oregon Trail for use in a U.S. History course (Max Lieberman)

Four Ways to Teach with Video Games 2) Games as Text Complex narrative game involves exploring, learning rules, taking risks, developing and testing hypotheses, and reading words, sounds, and images Complex narrative game involves exploring, learning rules, taking risks, developing and testing hypotheses, and reading words, sounds, and images Sociolinguist James Paul Gee Sociolinguist James Paul Gee “…games not only build literacy skills, they teach players new ways to learn and to think about learning” “…games not only build literacy skills, they teach players new ways to learn and to think about learning” World of Warcraft (five literacy skills) World of Warcraft (five literacy skills) Critical analysis, multicultural communication, collaborative writing, and reflection Critical analysis, multicultural communication, collaborative writing, and reflection

Four Ways to Teach with Video Games 3) Students Making Games Students enjoy and benefit from the experience Students enjoy and benefit from the experience There is a variety of software available for developing games There is a variety of software available for developing games Mini-game development Mini-game development Reach the same goals as teaching with content-aligned games Reach the same goals as teaching with content-aligned games

Four Ways to Teach with Video Games 4) Game-Like Motivational System Deep familiarity with video game design conventions Deep familiarity with video game design conventions Willingness to rethink pedagogy from the ground up Willingness to rethink pedagogy from the ground up Least explored in academic literature Least explored in academic literature Same lines of Vygotsky’s theory of scaffolding and the zone of proximal development Same lines of Vygotsky’s theory of scaffolding and the zone of proximal development Social constructivism Social constructivism Setting clear goals, allowing for healthy competition, and providing immediate feedback Setting clear goals, allowing for healthy competition, and providing immediate feedback

Video Games are a New Teaching Tool

School Uses Video Games to Teach Thinking Skills Quest to Learn School Quest to Learn School Learn in game-like environments Learn in game-like environments Game-based learning is integral to 21st century literacy Game-based learning is integral to 21st century literacy Most students do not need any instructions about video games Most students do not need any instructions about video games Video games are key to a new kind of literacy Video games are key to a new kind of literacy

School Uses Video Games to Teach Thinking Skills Creepytown Creepytown Imaginary city Imaginary city Learning math (economics) and literacy skills Learning math (economics) and literacy skills Students at Quest to Learn take the same standardized tests Students at Quest to Learn take the same standardized tests around 500 applicants for 80 slots in next year's class around 500 applicants for 80 slots in next year's class

Ms. Jennelle’s Preschool Classroom Would I use video games to teach? Would I use video games to teach? Not in a preschool classroom Not in a preschool classroom If I were in a higher grade, I would highly consider it. They would be teacher-monitored and appropriate in both age and content area. If I were in a higher grade, I would highly consider it. They would be teacher-monitored and appropriate in both age and content area. Preschool is just the beginning…the children are having their first experience at school. We explore using manipulatives the way older grades explore using technology. Preschool is just the beginning…the children are having their first experience at school. We explore using manipulatives the way older grades explore using technology.

References Chaplin, H. (2010). School Uses Video Games to Teach Thinking Skills. NPR. Retrieved from Chaplin, H. (2010). School Uses Video Games to Teach Thinking Skills. NPR. Retrieved from Gallagher, R. Video Games: Cons and Pros. NYU Child Study Center. Retrieved from pros# Gallagher, R. Video Games: Cons and Pros. NYU Child Study Center. Retrieved from pros# pros# pros# Lieberman, M. (2010). Four Ways to Teach with Video Games. Currents in Electronic Literacy. Retreived from ways-to-teach-with-video-games Lieberman, M. (2010). Four Ways to Teach with Video Games. Currents in Electronic Literacy. Retreived from ways-to-teach-with-video-games ways-to-teach-with-video-games ways-to-teach-with-video-games Want to Know it (2012). Pros and Cons of Video Games. Retrieved from video-games/ Want to Know it (2012). Pros and Cons of Video Games. Retrieved from video-games/ video-games/ video-games/