Video Games and Video Games and LearningLearning

Important FactsImportant Facts Studies continually show that violence and Studies continually show that violence and

videogames have NO correlationvideogames have NO correlation The gaming industry is one of the largest media The gaming industry is one of the largest media

industries in the world. Revenue generated last industries in the world. Revenue generated last year from the game industry was approximately year from the game industry was approximately $12 Billion dollars.$12 Billion dollars.

Unlike other industries, the game industry is Unlike other industries, the game industry is universally appealing. The movie industry is universally appealing. The movie industry is motivated 60% female to 40% male. The game motivated 60% female to 40% male. The game industry is 50% male and 50% female. industry is 50% male and 50% female.

You must educate yourself about video games You must educate yourself about video games before you think about implementing it for your before you think about implementing it for your class.class.

ESRB: Entertainment Software Ratings BoardESRB: Entertainment Software Ratings Board

The ESRB is the movie equivalent of the MPAA.The ESRB is the movie equivalent of the MPAA. Publishers of games carrying an ESRB rating are Publishers of games carrying an ESRB rating are

legally bound to follow the industry-adopted legally bound to follow the industry-adopted Principles and Guidelines for Responsible AdvertisiPrinciples and Guidelines for Responsible Advertising Practicesng Practices along with numerous requirements addressing along with numerous requirements addressing how ratings information must be displayed on how ratings information must be displayed on game packaging and in advertising, as well as game packaging and in advertising, as well as restrictions on where ads for M-rated games may restrictions on where ads for M-rated games may appear. The ESRB's Advertising Review Council appear. The ESRB's Advertising Review Council (ARC) diligently monitors for compliance, and in (ARC) diligently monitors for compliance, and in the event that a game publisher is found to have the event that a game publisher is found to have inappropriately labeled or advertised a product, the inappropriately labeled or advertised a product, the ESRB is empowered to compel corrective actions ESRB is empowered to compel corrective actions and impose a wide range of sanctions, including and impose a wide range of sanctions, including monetary fines where and when appropriate. monetary fines where and when appropriate.

RatingsRatings

E: Everyone (G) – cartoon violence, mild fantasy E: Everyone (G) – cartoon violence, mild fantasy violence, comic mischiefviolence, comic mischief

Everyone 10+ (PG) – mild violence, brief language, Everyone 10+ (PG) – mild violence, brief language, alcohol and gambling simulationsalcohol and gambling simulations

T: Teen 13+ (PG-13) – violence, crude humor, fantasy T: Teen 13+ (PG-13) – violence, crude humor, fantasy violence, mild lyrics, brief strong language, partial violence, mild lyrics, brief strong language, partial nuditynudity

M: Mature 17+ (R) – Intense violence, blood and gore, M: Mature 17+ (R) – Intense violence, blood and gore, nudity, mature sexual themes, strong languagenudity, mature sexual themes, strong language

AO: Adults only 18+ (NC-17) – The AO rating has never AO: Adults only 18+ (NC-17) – The AO rating has never been on a large scale distribution. No retailers been on a large scale distribution. No retailers (Wal*Mart, Game Stop, Best Buy) will carry these (Wal*Mart, Game Stop, Best Buy) will carry these games. games.

ProsPros

Games are interactive and problem Games are interactive and problem solving oriented. solving oriented.

CustomizableCustomizable Focus on a variety of subjectsFocus on a variety of subjects Help form identityHelp form identity Excellent use of Manipulation and Excellent use of Manipulation and

Distributed knowledgeDistributed knowledge Often real life parallelsOften real life parallels

ConsCons Video Games are expensiveVideo Games are expensive PC’s must be constantly upgraded to upkeep with new PC’s must be constantly upgraded to upkeep with new

technologytechnology Parents tend to be ignorant to the ESRB.Parents tend to be ignorant to the ESRB. ESRB reports, “According to a survey by Peter D. Hart ESRB reports, “According to a survey by Peter D. Hart

Research Associates in March 2006, 83% of parents Research Associates in March 2006, 83% of parents with children who play video games are aware of the with children who play video games are aware of the rating system and nearly three-quarters (74%) say rating system and nearly three-quarters (74%) say they “check the ESRB rating” for age appropriateness they “check the ESRB rating” for age appropriateness “every time” or “most of the time” when buying “every time” or “most of the time” when buying computer and video games for their children. Only half computer and video games for their children. Only half of parents check the content descriptors, which are of parents check the content descriptors, which are found on the back of game packaging and indicate found on the back of game packaging and indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.

General things to look forGeneral things to look for Offers meaning interaction such as dialogue with NPCs. As a teacher Offers meaning interaction such as dialogue with NPCs. As a teacher

you want meaningful interaction because it offers additional you want meaningful interaction because it offers additional opportunities to think.opportunities to think.

Has a complex storyline with characters users care about. Storylines Has a complex storyline with characters users care about. Storylines provide users with a reason for the gaming action to occur.provide users with a reason for the gaming action to occur.

Offers puzzles requiring effort to solveOffers puzzles requiring effort to solve Stimulates complex processes requiring adjustment of variables by Stimulates complex processes requiring adjustment of variables by

users to obtain desired results or adjusting variable leads to different users to obtain desired results or adjusting variable leads to different results. results.

Requires knowledge of game elements beyond mouse prompts, Requires knowledge of game elements beyond mouse prompts, number entry (e.g., combining elements to create new tools, number entry (e.g., combining elements to create new tools, understanding complex jargon)understanding complex jargon)

Requires gathering of information to complete/requires synthesis of Requires gathering of information to complete/requires synthesis of knowledge in order to complete pr successfully engage elements in knowledge in order to complete pr successfully engage elements in the game.the game.

Environment effectively replicates real world or a consistent Environment effectively replicates real world or a consistent imaginary world.imaginary world.

NPC’s display AI characteristicsNPC’s display AI characteristics Offers replay ability with varying results.Offers replay ability with varying results.

How to find out about video games that are How to find out about video games that are appropriate for your subjectappropriate for your subject

Research! There are tons of online Research! There are tons of online databases (Wilson Web / Ebsco Host that databases (Wilson Web / Ebsco Host that have lists of games that appropriate by have lists of games that appropriate by subject.subject.

Check online game sites. Check online game sites. Ask your students. They know what is Ask your students. They know what is

current. Check out what they are into. current. Check out what they are into. They might surprise you.They might surprise you.

ScienceScience Simulation games : aka Co-designSimulation games : aka Co-design The Sims, Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, Sim Life, The Sims, Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, Sim Life,

SporeSpore Cognitive research suggests that for humans, Cognitive research suggests that for humans,

perception and action are deeply interconnected. For perception and action are deeply interconnected. For example, when a person is changing the eco system example, when a person is changing the eco system or water a garden / crop rotation during the season – or water a garden / crop rotation during the season – this causes humans to feel as if their bodies and this causes humans to feel as if their bodies and minds have stretched into a new space (Clark, 2003, minds have stretched into a new space (Clark, 2003, 7). 7).

What allows a learner to feel that his or her body What allows a learner to feel that his or her body and mind have extended into the world being and mind have extended into the world being studied or investigated into the world of biology and studied or investigated into the world of biology and physics? Part of what does this is “smart tools” that physics? Part of what does this is “smart tools” that is tools and technologies that allow the learner to is tools and technologies that allow the learner to manipulate that world in a fine-grained way. manipulate that world in a fine-grained way.

Math / PhysicsMath / Physics Simulation/Tycoon : aka Economic / problem solvingSimulation/Tycoon : aka Economic / problem solving Sim City, Sim Tower, Civilization, Roller Coaster Tycoon, Sim City, Sim Tower, Civilization, Roller Coaster Tycoon,

Myst (series)Myst (series) Given human creativity, if learners face problems early Given human creativity, if learners face problems early

on that are too free-form or too complex, they often on that are too free-form or too complex, they often form creative hypotheses about how to solve these form creative hypotheses about how to solve these problems. The problems learners face early on are problems. The problems learners face early on are crucial and should be well-designed to lead them to crucial and should be well-designed to lead them to hypotheses that work well, not just on these problems, hypotheses that work well, not just on these problems, but as aspects of the solutions of later harder problems but as aspects of the solutions of later harder problems as well.as well.

Work on connectionism and distributed parallel Work on connectionism and distributed parallel processing in cognitive science. The fruitful patterns or processing in cognitive science. The fruitful patterns or generalizations in any domain are the ones that are generalizations in any domain are the ones that are best recognized by those who already know how to look best recognized by those who already know how to look at the domain. Know how complex variables at play in at the domain. Know how complex variables at play in the domain relate and inter-relate to each other.the domain relate and inter-relate to each other.

EnglishEnglish Adventure / Role Playing Games (RPG’s) : aka Story Adventure / Role Playing Games (RPG’s) : aka Story

drivendriven Mother 3, Final Fantasy (series), Grim Fandango, Mother 3, Final Fantasy (series), Grim Fandango,

God of War, The Legend of Zelda (Fitzgerald)God of War, The Legend of Zelda (Fitzgerald) Mother 3 is the first and only game to win the Mother 3 is the first and only game to win the

Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize Games often parallel Greek mythology, Victorian Games often parallel Greek mythology, Victorian

EraEra Storyline is related to narrative, which is a key Storyline is related to narrative, which is a key

component of advanced games and simulations. component of advanced games and simulations. When users immerse themselves in a story line, When users immerse themselves in a story line, opportunities for increased thought and narrative opportunities for increased thought and narrative processing will take place. Narrative study has been processing will take place. Narrative study has been extended successfully to gaming environments and extended successfully to gaming environments and is considered a key means of understanding is considered a key means of understanding interactions with complex games (Ryan, 2003, 95).interactions with complex games (Ryan, 2003, 95).

HistoryHistory Historical Action GamesHistorical Action Games Rome, Civilization (series), Republic: The Rome, Civilization (series), Republic: The

Revolution, Medal of Honor (series), Revolution, Medal of Honor (series), Morrowind/Oblivion (series), Rise of NationsMorrowind/Oblivion (series), Rise of Nations

Motivation for humans lies in challenges Motivation for humans lies in challenges that feel challenging, but doable and in that feel challenging, but doable and in gaining continual feedback that lets them gaining continual feedback that lets them know what progress they are making. know what progress they are making. Learners should be able to adjust the Learners should be able to adjust the difficulty level while being encourage to stay difficulty level while being encourage to stay at the outer edge of, but inside their level of at the outer edge of, but inside their level of competence.competence.

Other Subject AreasOther Subject Areas Spanish: Ico, Life Line – displays voice Spanish: Ico, Life Line – displays voice

communication and the importance of communication and the importance of language.language.

Physical Education: Eye Toy (series), Wii Physical Education: Eye Toy (series), Wii Sports, Dance Dance Revolution, Samba de Sports, Dance Dance Revolution, Samba de Amgio – all require physical motion to play Amgio – all require physical motion to play and everyone game on this list offers a calorie and everyone game on this list offers a calorie burning modeburning mode

Music: Guitar Hero, Beatmania, Amplitude, Music: Guitar Hero, Beatmania, Amplitude, Drum Hero, Mad Maestro, Karaoke Revolution Drum Hero, Mad Maestro, Karaoke Revolution – GH / BM / DH shows the complexities of riffs, – GH / BM / DH shows the complexities of riffs, cords. MM – shows the work in coordinating cords. MM – shows the work in coordinating an orchestra. KR has you sing and measures an orchestra. KR has you sing and measures pitch of your voice to align with songs.pitch of your voice to align with songs.

ResourcesResources

http://www.esrb.comhttp://www.esrb.com http://www.gamespot.comhttp://www.gamespot.com http://www.ign.comhttp://www.ign.com http://http://www.scholastic.comwww.scholastic.comGee, Paul. (2003) Good Video Games as Gee, Paul. (2003) Good Video Games as

Learning Machines, Learning Machines, Learning by DesignLearning by Design. . pp. 1-31pp. 1-31

Rice, John. (2007) Assessing Higher OrderRice, John. (2007) Assessing Higher OrderThinking in Video Games, Thinking in Video Games, Jl. Of Technology Jl. Of Technology EducationEducation. Pp. 87-100. Pp. 87-100