Gaming as an Instructional Strategy for 21 st Century Skills

1. Gaming as an Instructional Strategy for 21st Century Skills Joe R. Busby, Davison Mupinga & Pamela Page-Carpenter

2. Background • Millennium Kids, Digital Generation, i-kids • Approx. 145 m video game players • Approx. 51M of 53M K-12 students play v/games • Instructional design more learner-centered • Meeting students in their Gaming & Instruction

3. Agenda • The digital age students • Gaming & Edutainment • Common ed. games used? • What’s the appeal? • Competencies & Skills developed • Gaming Resources Gaming & Instruction

4. The Digital Age Students • Today’s students & their environment • Expectations of fast paced electronic world • Video games as a way of life • Gaming as an instructional strategy? Gaming & Instruction

5. Gaming & Edutainment • Immersive virtual environments where game players can interact with objects & visualizations that entertain while providing learning opportunities • Educational content poured into games • Expecting players to be motivated to learn Gaming & Instruction

6. Common Regular Games Gaming & Instruction The Perceptive Eye/Ear Game Most TV games Jeopardy Wheel of Fortune Who Wants an Education?’ Day @ the Beach Tic Tac Toe Hangman Deal or No Deal Operation Hot Potato Around the World Charades Hollywood Squares.

7. http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Games/Educational_Games/ Gaming & Instruction

8. Not so Common Games ? • Collaborative Drawing • Instructor versus Artists • Plus Math online worksheets • Daily living interactive games • Social Cars • Safety Signs • Chickens. Gaming & Instruction

9. What other video games applicable to Tech Ed can you think of?

10. What’s the Appeal? • Students control game environment • Pretend to be someone else through game character • Interact with people all over the world • Instant gratification & feedback • Fun from the adrenaline rush

11. Furthermore…students can • Comprehend complex story lines & tracks inter-personal interactions with other players • Learn social norms & rules beyond those of your physical community • Builds self-esteem as their skill level increases

12. Competencies & Skill Developed Skills Required in Gaming • fast decision making & hand-eye coordination • Independent or playing with others Gaming & 21st Century Skills • Reading/literacy • Logical thinking & Decision making • Observation (visual skills) • Map-making & reading skills • Problem solving &collaboration • Strategy planning Gaming & Instruction

13. Elsewhere: Inspired by Wii, professors create a virtual dance space Visit: http://education.zdnet.com/?p=740 ‘Wii’ bit of technology aids medical education Visit: http://asunews.asu.edu/20080222_wiistudy Video Game in Mechanical Engineering Education Visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYGwaI-haOM www.ceet.niu.edu/faculty/coller Teaching math disguised as video game Visit: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2004324076_dreambox03m.html Other Uses in Education: Gaming & Instruction

14. Extent of Gaming in Education No Gamer Left Behindhttp://www.edutopia.org/computer-simulations-virtual-learning-video Gaming & Instruction

15. Gaming & Trends Paducah Sun covers opening of Young Adult Media Bar @ McCracken County Public Library (6.19.2003) Bloomington Library

16. Parent’s Perspective “I am also a gamer and have a big problem with other people who say that video games are bad for children. I grew up with video games and believe that the puzzles, critical thinking skills, strategy and critical problem solving skills are essential to a young persons mind.These games not only teach the player to solve problems on their own but allow them to hone those skills and become better and faster thinkers. My daughter already at the age of 1 1/2 has a learning laptop and has been introduced to learning games. With that said, I will leave you with this: “I am a product of technology and video games and believe that in the future, if children are sheltered from technology they will be left behind.” Justin Barone, 2008 Edutopia Blog

17. In Summary…Gaming • Provides less dangerous & realistic scenarios • E.g., simulation • Use good role playing games, simulation games, or adventure games…non violent. • Promotes 21st century skills • soft skills & higher-order thinking skills • Makes learning fun • Kids said to “power down” in school? • Ideal for today’s students • Meeting them in their comfort zone Gaming & Instruction

18. Resources Books • Beck, J.C. & Mitchell, W. (2004). Got Game : How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever. Harvard Business School Press. • Cassell, J. & Henry, J. (1998). From Barbie to Mortal Kombat : Gender and Computer Games. MIT Press, 1998. • Gee, J.P. (2003). What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Palgrave McMillan. • Johnson, S. (2005). Everything Bad is Good for You : How Today’s Pop Culture is Making Us Smarter. Riverhead. • Prensky, M. (2006). Don’t Bother Me Mom—I’m Learning. Paragon House. Web • Education ArcadePartnership between MIT & University of Wisconsin Madison investigating educational games • Entertainment Software Association(ESA) Organization responsible for video game ratings, regulation and more • Game ProfessorGood collection of resources related to video game research, conferences, academic papers, etc. • Escapist MagazineWeekly online magazine covers industry issues and news with a personal spin • 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents

19. Thank You & let the Video Games begin Joe R. Busby, Email: joe_busby@ncsu.edu Davison Mupinga, Email: dmupinga@kent.edu Pam Page-Carpenter, Email: pam_carpenter@ncsu.edu