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| Are you ready to bring games into the classroom? |
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Are computer and video games headed for our classrooms?
Bob Barboza, Journalist, Kids Talk Radio
The research is starting to support that idea that games
could work in our classrooms.
However, teachers are divided on this topic. Kids Talk Radio visited the E-3 Expo in Los
Angeles, California looking for comments.
Most people that we interviewed were positive about using educational
games in the classroom. They just were
not sure how it could be done.
“ I think it is a great idea to have games in the
classroom. If fact I wish I hand the
phones that the kids have today. With
these phones they can play a wide variety of games.” Keveen, Los Angeles
“ Kids need to improve their grades. If they can demonstrate that they can improve
their grades let them play. Why not.”
Sherry, Pasadena, CA.
“One of the reasons I am here is to by games for our game
store. We have lots of kids coming in
afterschool to buy all sorts of games.
Our business is doing well. We
love the idea that teacher are even thinking about how games can we used in the
classrooms.” Steve and Mary, San Diego, CA.
Many people were in favor of games in the classroom. They were worried about how teachers were
going to pull it off. They even thought
that parents should have a say in just how the school day would be organized so
that games would not take over the whole day.
“On
the other hand, critics charge that the games' educational benefits have not
been clearly established. Furthermore, competitiveness and the use of
hierarchical scoring systems can compromise engagement for some students, and
video gaming at school reinforces the digitized and sedentary lifestyle many
young people already experience at home. “ Sara Bernard for Edutopia.
Comments
run hot and cold about using games in the classroom. People are making good points and these are
topics that will be reaching state departments of education and the game topics
continues to pick up traction.
No. Using electronic games in the classroom is not the best
thing for students simply because games are part of the world they grow up in.
Educational video games should be judged, critiqued, and proven before they're
used in class.
Yes.
Computer and video games engage, motivate, and inspire students, and
educational researchers and game designers are collaborating to create their
ideal niche in the classroom.
No. Kids are already behind in school.
Introducing games will just make matters worst.
Yes,
We need to do whatever we can to keep our kids engaged while they are in
school. Just regulate the amount of time
that kids are spending.
Yes,
I desperately wanted to vote "yes" because I think there is a lot of
educational potential in computer-based games and simulations. However, voting
"yes" with the way the questions were worded would be tantamount to
supporting the same kind of naive optimism that has actually hindered the
effective use of computer technology in the classroom in general.
Yes, Being a
female who grew up in the age of Atari, Nintendo, Sega and to those games of
the day, I can back that the female gamer quota is a lot larger than most
think. There are a lot of important females in the gaming field who have a love
for not only playing but making games that children play these days.
Of course the whole day should not be everyone gathered around playing video
games, but video games go far beyond giving children better hand and eye
coordination. It forces them to think when they don't really know they are learning.
Reading and writing respones to the game helps improve both skills, and if a
game tells a story it helps them become not only better at reading but
interested in literature.
The females of the group will only be less interested in learning through games
if people continue to tell them that they are a minority in gaming. It might
surprise many teachers just how many of them might be interested in the games.
No matter what age, females love to out do the males in their class, it might
turn out better than some teachers think.
It's a wonderful idea, and not only should the teachers test out the game,
but also the students. They should be monitored and see what games they respond
to, and which ones actually have the results that everyone hopes for. Technology
changes as society changes, and the way children learn these days is very
different than the many years ago that our current school systems are based off
of too.
A last thought, not only playing the games has to be enough. There is also
the world behind creating the games which can help create math skills,
problem-solving skills, creative art skills, and team work. Full Sail and the
Orlando Science Center hosts a Girls n Gaming convention every summer where
girls of all ages can come in and create their own video games, and the outcome
is always wonderful.
Just food for thought.
Kids Talk Radio is going to be visiting this topic again and we have plans
to conduct a very special podcast at the 2011 E-3 Expo. This will not be the last that you hear about
this topic.
You can find our E-3 photo essays, and audio and video podcasts at the
following links.
www.SuperSchoolUniversity.com
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kids-talk-radio-podcasts/id328483092
http://web.me.com/bobbarboza2/KidsTalkRadio/Welcome.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/KidsTalkRadio
Kids Talk Radio wants to know about how feel about using games in the
classroom.
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