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School of Gaming
AveryZoe
April 30, 2010
Video games have long had a reputation for undermining our children's educations, as critics argue that gaming children spend far more time holding a controller than a pencil. According to scientist James Gee, however, it doesn't need to be an either/or situation. Professor Gee feels that if schools were to use some of the strategies found in well-made games, children would learn things easier and more effectively.
Video games use three very effective strategies to teach, according to Professor Gee. The first of these strategies is to provide information in stages. Rather than providing all the information up front and then applying the concepts after--as is customary in teaching today--video games take a learn-as-you-go approach. The gamer jumps right into the problem and learns by trial-and-error, with information and instruction being given as needed. The second advantage video games offer in learning is what Gee calls a "pleasantly frustrating environment." This means that the tasks are difficult enough to be a challenge, but not so difficult that they are no longer fun. The third aspect of gaming that Professor Gee praises is the practice of "modding," which means that players are given the opportunity to create their own levels, characters, etc. This immersion gives the player the opportunity to better understand the game. Gee says, "Think about it. If I have to make the game, or a part of the game, I come to a deep understanding of the game as a rule system. If I had to mod science--that is, I had to make some of my own curriculum or my own experiments--then I'd have an understanding at a deep level of what the rules are."
James Gee is not the only academic speaking out about the teaching abilities of video games. Psychologist Douglas Gentile also thinks that video games are "exemplary teachers"--of aggression. He and his father, J. Ronald Gentile, conducted a long-term study of nearly 2500 youths, ranging in age from 8 to 19. Over the course of six months, the Gentile's studied usage of violent video games, and how it correlated to an increase in aggressive behavior. The youths, their teachers, and their peers all filled out studies on the youth's gaming habits and rates of aggression. The study found that the youth's who played many violent games had an increased risk of 263% of being very aggressive than their peers who did not play violent games. Says Douglas Gentile, "We know a lot about how to be an effective teacher, and we know a lot about how to use technology to teach. Video games use many of these techniques and are highly effective teachers. So we shouldn't be surprised that violent video games can teach aggression."
Although their study focused on the negative effects of gaming, the Gentiles join Professor Gee in stating that the techniques used in gaming are highly effective for teaching. In fact, they are proponents of using more smart technology in schools, and encourage teachers and administrators to use these proven techniques in the classrooms.