After completing my gaming & simulations research paper, I can definitely say that knowledge was gained. Up until this point, I had never before considered the statistics surrounding gaming in the classroom. As my paper will attest, there has been much research conducted concerning gaming in the classroom and much of it has given results that prove gaming in the classroom is very beneficial to students.
I played WOW and struggled with it at first. The vocabulary is advanced and the skills involved are technical, requiring fluency with math and economics. After playing the game and figuring out the basic navigation and rules, I finally began to grasp how it could be educational in the classroom. It does require skills and can help a child, who is interested enough, gain these skills! Math is involved, reading and economics. You have to use your brain power or you will never succeed. Plus, it is competitive so you will practice and work at it and gain those skills only to do better than your opponents. That makes it perfect for students because it is a lesson in disguise. They would never suspect that they are actually learning things.
After conducting the research and playing the game, I would undoubtedly choose to use technology like this with my students as long as it is grade level appropriate. Gaming is the future and in order to be an effective teacher, I must examine all resources available in give my students the best advantages in the industry of education. So, I give gaming an "a-ok!" because I see the benefits and I know children will love the idea of playing games for school! :)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
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