Games in Education March 2014 | Page 2

Learning in school vs VideoGames

Topic 1

James Paul Gee

Principles on Gaming

new arrivals

Effective learning starts by empowering learners

1

Power to Make Decisions

Power to Customize

Clear Goals in Mind

Power to manipulate experience

"Good video games create effective learning."

Video games empower learners in several ways.

Firstly, participants make decisions in games that affect the outcome. This personalizes the experience.

Secondly, they have customization capability. This allows comfort, but invites participants to choose new ways to complete a task.

Thirdly, games have clear goals. Participants have a clear sense of who they are going to be.

Fourthly, participants can manipulate the game. Tools within a game allow users to engage mind and body in learning.

Schools often do not challenge students. Personalization and costumization is lacking in the learning experience. Students ask "why" because often they have no clear goal for completing an activity.

Empower the learner

Video Games

Decision making, Customization, Goals, and Manipulation

School

No challenge, Personalization, Customization or Clear Goals.