A good game

My topic for this second series of posts is educational video games. I'd like to explore different aspects of them, from the pedagogical benefits to problems we may encounter while using video games in the classroom.

My first paper ( What makes a good learning game? By Simon Egenfeldt-Nielson) discusses the different components of video-games and the essential qualities we have to look for in a good learning game. The author describes the two essential components of a video game as the substantives and the verbs. The substantives are what you see. It makes up the story and the environment. The verbs are what you do in the game. They are about making decisions and seeing the consequences in the form of feedback and rewards system regulated by the rules of the game.

Three factors are essential for a good design:
- Integration: learning is an essential part of the game. It means that students need to master the learning goals to succeed. Curriculum should be integrated in both the environment (the substantives) and the actions (the verbs).
- Motivation: the advantages of using a game format are attraction and motivation. It is used to engage and attract students interest and requires a good rewards, feedback and consequences system. The player is motivated when challenged and the progression follows the “flow”theory (see post 2: Go with the “flow”!)
- Focus: this part relates to the meaning of both verbs and substantives. The learning experience can be integrated within the setting of the game (the substantives) but if it is not integrated within the verbs, the focus of the learning experience will be lost.

I believe this article points out essential fields that we as teachers have to take into consideration when looking at the pedagogical value of a learning game. The integration of the curriculum in both the setting and the actions is as important as the motivation and the engagement values of the game.

A beautiful example is shown in the following video where a teacher guides his students through the setting of a video game in order to engage them, motivate them and stimulate their creativity resulting in a better quality writing.

Reference:

Elearn magazine: What makes a good learning game? By Simon Egenfeldt-Nielson.

Youtube: Creative writing with computer games