Video Games in the Classroom

I remember in elementary school when we were first using computers we played a game called "The Oregon Trail", it was amazing. Everyone I know that played this game as a child absolutely loved this activity. Not only did this game teach us about using a computer and about the history of the Oregon trail, it was fun and exciting. Instead of being in the classroom and finding the information in a text, this gave us a "hand-on" approach to learning. Allow I am not the best at video games, I think that video games are a useful tool to enhance the learning process.

In the article "Good Video Games and Good Learning" written by James Gee, he brings up several points that show why video games are useful in the classroom. I agree that when playing a video game it allows the player to take on the identity of the character, they make a committment to their identity and really feel what it's like to be in this virtual world. Video games give you interaction unlike what you would receive out of a textbook. You provide a form of input and the game responds to this with a certain output, a book only allows for a one-way interaction. I also find it important that video games allow the student to be apart of the developing of the game. In school students don't have many opportunities where they can contribute to the lessons, the video games allows them to contribute to their learning.

Although I feel video games can be a valuable tool for learning, I don't think they should be overly incorporated into the curriculum. I know that personally I struggle with video games and feel more comfortable learning out of a textbook or taking notes in a lecture. It is important to keep in mind that not all students will have the hand-eye coordination that is necessary to be successful in video game learning. All students learn differently so all styles of learning need to be incorporated into the classroom.

My students will be much more technologically advanced than I so I will definitely make sure that I use technology based learning whenever possible. There are many positive aspects that can come out of using video games as a learning tool in the classroom and as a future educator I want to make sure that my students have a chance to take advantage of the technology that is available to them.