Video Games as Learning Tools

Video games as learning tools
Karen Craig
EDU 533W Micaela Boesche



I believe that if a student wants to play a video game that is designed to teach, for example, The Civil War, then it would be a successful teaching tool. Just like when players have all the characters and facts memorized in the video games they are playing at home, students would learn and know all the facts about the Civil War after playing such a game in school. My opinion is that in a situation as this one, a video game that complemented the traditional educational setting would be effective. However, I personally would not like to see them take the place of traditional instruction. For many students, as with cell phones, video games are already such a large part of their routine, and to incorporate them into the classroom and perhaps replace the traditional system would be too much. I don’t say this because I am against video games. I say this because I feel that traditional school work at times can be hard work, and there is value in hard work. There is value in achieving self discipline and a good work ethic. I feel that perhaps video games are an easy, fun alternative for learning. This is great, however, there is not going to be a video game for every hurdle a student comes across in the future. There won’t always be an easy way to tackle problems and new ideas.
Gee says in his video interview, “we have de-professionalized teachers; we’ve allowed a bunch of textbooks and tests, and politicians, and schools of education to supervise them and to do curriculum for them in ways that take away their professional responsibilities.” I agree with this, but I feel video games would also take away from teachers. If we had a video game for every subject or concept, then the video game would be doing all the work. In moderation, video games designed to teach and assess, and allow teacher and student to become “partners in learning” is a positive aspect.
Video games will not be used in my classroom as I plan to teach Physical Education to younger students. In Today’s technologies, Tomorrow’s Learning, a lot is said about Social Networking. A site as this set up for a classroom for students and teachers to communicate and share ideas is terrific. For me, this will work great. It won’t be a requirement, but students will be able to give their input on different aspects of the class and I will welcome all. As in my Wiki example, I plan to ask students to play a part in designing some aspects of their routine, and search for other ways to become healthy that we could use in class.