I have had a hard time trying to choose a video game that could be used in the classroom. Not because I don’t see any value in them but because there are so many and so many possibilities that it is hard to choose just one.
If you were to use Farmville you could teach geometry concepts. You have to be able to use spatial concepts to figure out how to arrange everything on your farm for the maximum use of land. You have to plan where you are placing items to be able to access them as well. If you have corner plots that are blocked from view they are difficult to plant and harvest which may cost you revenue. Also with the trees you have to think about where they will be placed as to not block access to the land around them.
The game Angry Birds you have to think about angles and trajectories. This is a game that kids will keep working with until they get it figured out. If you gave them a worksheet with the same idea they would give up quickly, but in the video game format they will keep trying until they succeed. You can then take some of these concepts and have them build some of the structures out of blocks and test how stable they are and what they need to change to improve their structural integrity. There are many geometry and physics concepts in most video games. Even in a simple pool game you have to problem solve and use angles and force and motion ideas to be successful.
I have found through Rice University a Crime Scene Investigation simulation game that has some really awesome components. You can compare DNA samples, look at bullet fragments and match them, you can observe a animated autopsy and have each step explained. They give you facts and evidence from a crime and you have to walk through each step of the investigation to solve the crime. http://forensics.rice.edu/ Check it out !! It has the characters from CSI: Nevada. I had a whole summer science program built around this web site. We were going to start with the web adventure and then have speakers from local law enforcement talk to them about crime scene investigation. Then I was going to set up a mock crime scene and have them use all the concepts that they learned from the web adventure and the speakers and short mini lessons to solve the crime. I was going to have them do finger printing, hair sample analysis, foot print casting, fiber analysis and interview suspects. Unfortunately this did not happen because I was denied my grant and the school couldn’t afford to fund the program. I still have all the plans so maybe sometime in the future it still may come to be.
There are so many choices where you can take your students on web adventures or have them learn specific concepts through video games. Even just the problem solving and critical thinking skills that it takes to be successful in these games can be built upon in the classroom. This is something that is being talked about more all the time. We discussed this concept in my Visual Literacy class last semester, Dr. Z was telling me about someone doing their research on this idea and I found several articles on the topic as well. I think it will be a fun addition to the classroom and for some kids will really get them excited about learning. I believe if you really tried you could find many games that would teach a concept that kids can relate to and then take it away with them and apply that concept to a real world situation. It will take thought and planning, not just random games with the claim of educational value, but could be a great addition to your curriculum.
Image from Rice University CSI web site, http://forensics.rice.edu/
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