I remember when I was a child and playing educational games on my family’s Gateway computer. I played games like The Magic School Bus, Reader Rabbit, JumpStart, and Number Munchers. Often, these games were substitutes to more entertaining games on my family’s Super Nintendo that were occupied by my brothers. These games weren’t always very fun, but it was something to play and my parents liked them.
Now, video games have the ability to revolutionize education, from the earliest stages to the highest levels of education. It is a tool that educators everywhere are using to engage with students.
Elementary Schools and Video Games
“Educational” video games have traditionally been geared towards younger generations, typically focusing on one or two subjects. Number Munchers taught kids math, Reader Rabbit taught reading, and each Magic School Bus taught about a specific topic, from the human body to the Amazonian rainforest. Many of these games were great for repetition and practicing things learned in school, but little else.
Fast forward out of the 90’s to today. Games have developed leaps and bounds in what is possible, including how they can be used in education. They can still be used for repetition, but can also teach more abstract ideas to kids.
For example, Microsoft has recently announced an educational version of the hit game Minecraft. Among younger generations, this game is massively popular, and using it the classroom is something teachers have been doing for a long time. Minecraft gives children and teachers the tools to creative learning. Children can practice more abstract skills like teamwork, storytelling, and problem solving. It can also be used to practice concepts learned in class like math or science. Really, creative teachers can find ways to use Minecraft in almost every subject, to make it all interesting to kids.
There are other ways games can be used at an elementary level. Video games can bring other subjects to life and engage children in concepts that might be difficult to teach. Science, history, astronomy, and other STEM topics can all be taught with video games to keep students interested.
Video Games and Older Students
As students grow older, video games need to take on a different role. Instead of practicing abstract skills like teamwork, schools should focus on using games to help understand complex theories and concepts. A class wide economic simulator could be utilized to help teach an Economics course. A game like Besiege can teach different engineering theories, and similar games to teach other STEM skills.
These games would also give teens hands on experience in different topics. Many schools teach the concepts in subjects, but lack a physical way for students to practice. This teaching style really excludes students who need that hands on experience to learn. Video games can fill that hole in education, helping more students succeed.
College, Online Classes and Video Games
The face of higher education is in a period of change right now, thanks to technology and the internet. Teachers have to learn to adapt to online classes and how the internet has changed education. With online classes, simply testing if they know subject matter isn’t effective because students are able to find answers quickly online. Because of the nature of online classes, it’s also hard to test someone’s understanding and skill level.
Utilizing video games for coursework can make online classes much more effective. It encourages students to engage with the subject matter rather than simply Googling the answer. It can help transform different classes into semester long “labs” to test their knowledge and give them practical understanding. ASU’s environmental science online course utilizes video games to teach different skills that goes with that career that could not be taught online otherwise.
Incorporating games into online curriculums is also a way to increase student interactions. Many courses struggle to get students to work together and have meaningful conversations, but using video games as the medium for discussion. Students will want to work together to win the game.
Do you have any thoughts about video games in education? Do you think games don’t belong in classrooms? Let us know in the comments below.