Leveraging Games
Topic 2
6
Video games teach communication and collaboration. In a study done by Jason Drysdal of the Univeristy of Colorado, participants collaborated "naturally because each player was invested in the success and failures of others" (51).
"Games provide many opportunities to develop and enhance teamwork and leadership skills" (52).
Drysdale noted that while playing the participants cooperatively and defined distinct roles within a group.
Participants also worked together to brainstorm solutions to problems and proceeded once they came to a consensus.
Because players were invested in the collective success, experienced players helped less experienced players succeed.
James Gee (2008) suggests that people derived great pleasure, excitement, and fun in organizing themselves into
cross-functional teams" (33).
He also notes that team members must hone their particular skill and contribute adequately in order to remain within a group.
Challenges also "require intricate preplanning, lots of practice, and skilled orchestration. They require levels of leadership from top-level planners to team leaders, and they demand both excellent vertical (top-down) and horizontal (across all participants) communication" (Gee 34).
World of WarCraft
Teamwork in Action
Teamwork
Work together to reach goals...
Communication
Participants must communicate effectively with one another to c ollectively decide on a course of action.
Collaboration
Participants must work together and contribute to overcome challenges.