effects on learning. Students were more emotionally and intellectually engaged during the interactive lessons, and students who struggled academically performed better in the Mission U.S. unit compared to most other units. The game’s flexible format allows for use in the classroom, at home, in the library or media center, or anywhere there’s a computer with an Internet connection, and students can work alone, in pairs, or in groups. Sarah’s students, of all ability levels, found something they liked about Mission U.S. “The learning conversations that took place were of a much higher level,” she said.
Using Mission U.S. to Improve Learning Mission U.S.: For Crown or Colony is an interactive game that allows students to step into the shoes of a 14-year-old apprentice who closely experiences the events that led up to the Boston Massacre. The game was extremely successful, and the developers plan to launch a second “mission” in January, where students can follow the experiences of Lucy, an escaped slave preceding the Civil War.
to enhance learning? Likewise, how do you incorporate a game like Mission U.S. into your curriculum?
While technology and digital media are not the silver bullet that will transform schools overnight, in the hands of a skilled teacher video games can engage and challenge students in ways that a history textbook cannot. A great amount of research has gone into the effectiveness of using video games in the classroom. From giving students the ability to deeply analyze and interact with material to providing immediate feedback, video games create learning environments that define clear goals, encourage motivation, and scaffold learning to meet the individual needs of each student. The teacher then provides the interpretation and the ability to help the student plan and move forward in their learning.
“Any opportunity to get students as the center of the learning is important, and I knew that most of my students were more interested in being on a computer instead of listening to me lecture,” said Carlson. A professional development lecturer spoke to Sarah about the benefits of incorporating online virtual learning as a cornerstone of 21st century skills. After some research of her own, Sarah decided Mission U.S. would be a good choice. “After playing the game myself, I knew students would instantly take to this sort of learning.”
So what does a classroom look like that has effective teachers using video games
Sarah Carlson, a social studies teacher who now works at Malcom Price Lab School at Northern University High School, won the Mission U.S. Teacher of the Year Award in 2010 for integrating the game into her American Revolution unit.
However, students will gain the most if their game-play experiences are supported by classroom activities, discussions, and writing exercises guided by a teacher’s expertise. The website provides a wealth of materials to connect the game to your own goals and objectives. “The supporting materials were great,” said Carlson. “All of it was ready for me to use or not use.” This video game puts historical events into context, helping to show that history is more than memorizing facts and dates. It’s a story about people who made decisions that were complex and not always right. While the game is not the perfect answer to teaching history, it is a supplement that can help students engage in history in new and unexpected ways. “That’s the important part to remember,” said Carlson. “The game helped make learning more relevant, so that my students were more attentive, more focused, and much more interested and that’s what counts.”
The Education Development Center conducted a national study, which included several Iowa teachers, over the effectiveness of using Mission U.S. as a supplement to an American history unit. The study concluded that using the game had several positive
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