Games Based Learning - Ross
by making money and making others
their own version related to a specific
Anderson
bankrupt, ironic in todays economy I
subject. But what about the future? What
know! However when you scratch the
about digital games? Sure there are
surface and extract the learning you will
numerous learning games our there. The
be surprised. The game challenges the
Glow Project in Scottish schools is
learners to read cards and process
representative of that and the work by
information. It requires the player to use
Marc Prensky provides education
I am sometimes ridiculed for my belief that using games or video games in sessions is an effective educational statement. I am here today to tell you that they are! Games have existed in the
reasoning. But what else? Digital Games,
world for hundreds of thousands of years
such as those on current games
and share many similarities over the
consoles may not be educational on their
generations. They are fun, they are
own but can embedded as the ‘fun’
competitive and they are collaborative.
factor in sessions. Getting a top timed
Look aside if you will to the fact that
lap on the Top Gear track in a Bugatti
usually there is a loser, cheating or bad
Veyron adds nothing to teaching ICT
sportsmanship but instead focus on the
other than a way to generate data for a
benefits of Games Based Learning. It
spreadsheet. Playing a game of Xbox
may be correct that certain video games and boards games contain no subject
numeracy to add up and work out rents
specific learning such as focusing on
and fines as well as teaching learners to
drugs education or how to cut hair, but
communicate and collaborate. The skills
instead they provide the opportunity to
of bargaining and reasoning and
work on basic skills such as numeracy,
remaining cool under pressure could be
literacy, communication, social skills and
applied to the world of work and
even work related skills. Take for
employability. Best of all its fun and
example Monopoly. A game that has
engaging. Other conversation topics can
evolved with numerous versions and is
be added as additional learning and its
still popular today. The object ? - to win
versatile enough for learners to create
Kinect Tennis or Darts adds nothing to functional skills other than numbers that can be used for Math's and an experience that could be written about in English. The list goes on. However! The main difference these games add are some of the most important foundations for teaching. Fun, Motivation, Collaboration, Engagement, SelfReliance and Ownership. 8