Learn with games!

I am really fascinated by they weeks topic. Ever since my family got a PC in 1986 and I got my first taste of video games, I have been hooked. I think that I have developed a number of skill sets over the years from playing (way too many) video games. There are the basic cognitive skills like spacial-orientation, visual acuity, hand-eye coordination, etc., but I think that I have also become much more adaptable to new situations and become a very quick learner because of video gaming. After all, in a video game, the player must become acquainted with a new world and a new set of rules very quickly in order to succeed.

I enjoyed the insights in many of this weeks readings. The idea of cognitive disequilibrium that Van Eck describes is an interesting one. It also seems to make a lot of sense in regards to how we learn. Given a situation that poses a familiar problem, we assume a certain cause and solution, but are forced to learn new possibilities when our expectations are foiled. It is the gradual building on existing mental frameworks that seems to be particularly effective in learning. Games do this quite well, by gradually increasing the complexity and difficulty of levels.

I think that games are great learning tools (or have the potential to be, at least) in large part because they have something that will be accessible to all different learning styles. There are visual, aural, written, and experiential aspects of video games. Regardless of a students strength, there is a communication/learning method present in video games that will be accessible.

With regards to implementing game assisted learning in the classroom (or the library), Squire and Steinkuehler have some important ideas about skills that gamers have that can be tapped to aid learning. For instance, they point out that for gamers, "knowing where and how to find the right information isn't just entertainment, it's also a source of prestige." Many games require research and knowledge acquisition that, in online fora brings individuals prestige. Many gamers have a genuine love of research and this love can be leveraged to benefit them academically, if games are incorporated into lesson plans.

I would love to see a games night in the library where students could play various games so long as they signed out at least one book--preferably related to some topic explored within one of the games. That would be really cool, even at a university level. There are many games based on world mythologies, or literature that could lead students to rich learning experiences.