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More on Games and Education

The following is my contribution to an optional "emerging technologies" discussion in the last week of Management of Technology for Educaiton, followed by two responses and my replies.

An emerging technology (in education) that excites me and gives me hope for the future in addressing the needs of students is the application of video games as engaging teaching and learning tools. I am particularly interested in the potential of multiplayer online role playing games as constructivist learning environments, and my final paper will focus on the management issues involved, so I will post it here when I am done.

I'm sure I've shared these books on the subject here before:

Aldrich, C. (2004). Simulations and the future of learning. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital game-based learning. New York: McGraw Hill.

Gee, J. P. (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.


And here is a brand new one I just received:

Aldrich, C. (2005). Learn by doing: a comprehensive guide to simulations, computer games, and pedagogy in e-learning and other educational experiences. San Francisco: Pfeiffer.

-Mark


Another book of interest may be:

Iverson, K. M. (2005). E-learning games: Interactive learning strategies for digital delivery. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

It is less a book of theory and more a collection of classroom strategies but I found her “games” to be an interesting look at applying the theory to the realities of the online classroom.

Wow. Thanks, Wyll. I am ordering it today. It's almost certainly too late for this paper, but will help with my KAMs and dissertation!

When ordering this, I also discovered and ordered "Engaging Learning : Designing e-Learning Simulation Games" by Clark N. Quin.

-Mark


Mark,

It may be a trend that I am seeing lately (maybe more so because you have expressed an interest and shared with the class this term) but have you noticed that recent instructional technology conferences have at least one session on games/simulation/virtual reality etc?

Do you plan to attend any of these conferences to support further research and study?

Yes. And absolutely - as many as work will allow. :)

Last week, the LA Times even ran a story called Geek Fun Isn't Frivolous.

This doesn't really count, but I am offering a course in Games and Learning at the OCDE in August, and I am applying to present the topic at next year's CUE (Computer Using Educators) Conference and next year's NECC (National Educational Computing Conference) Conference. CUE has shown such interest in the topic that they are now courting Clarck Aldrich, James Paul Gee, and Mark Prensky as possible keynote speakers.

I just got finished attending an entire conference dedicated to this topic, the Education Arcade Games in Education Conference. It was great to meet many of the authors and practitioners in the field. I wish I were able to attend the Games, Learning, and Society Conference next month; alas, it may not come to pass. Actually... as I write this... and review the site I just linked to... I realize I better be there. Time to spend my last vacation day (and a sick day?) of the year, spend some more financial aid, and get myself out there.

Boy am I glad you and Wyll responded to my post this week. :)

-Mark