Using games as specialized learning
by Ross Miller 
{ Dec 29th 2006 at 3:25PM }
The Chicago Tribune recently published an expose on the efforts of David Williamson Shaffer, an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a long and accredited background in education. Shaffer is pushing to use video games as a means of teaching kids new specializations, as opposed to enhancing currently-covered curriculum (e.g., Math Blasters).Shaffer, who just released a book How Computer Games Help Children Learn, argues that we should utilize interactive entertainment to better prepare children for the real world. "We already choose to have our kids think like historians [in history class]," he said, "or like cartoon scientists ... In thinking like a journalist or an urban planner or a lawyer in society, you prepare kids to enter the workforce as more prepared citizens."
We await the day where our descendants enjoy a round of Mario Teaches Electrical Engineering.
See Also:
Our coverage of the Serious Game Summit 2006
[Update 1: It's Shaffer, not Shaffen -- I used both. Sorry for the confusion.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ron @ Dec 29th 2006 3:29PM
... or Princess Peach: OBGYN
Judd @ Dec 29th 2006 3:31PM
Anyone know when "And Justice for All" is coming out in the US?
crono141 @ Dec 29th 2006 3:34PM
ROFL @ Ron. Thats kinda gross.
But seriously, this is a good idea. Learning things become fun when its a game. Think Civilization or SimCity (SimCity 4000 btw is used in many universities as and urban planning simulator, its that good).
I played a game in my childhood where you controlled a robot in order to achieve a goal. This lead to thinking like a CNC programmer. RPG maker is a great creative tool/game that makes you think like a programmer (not a true game, I know, but still fun to play with as a teen).
Unimental @ Dec 29th 2006 3:35PM
I myself have given plenty of sniper rifle lessons online in recent weeks.
Hannibal @ Dec 29th 2006 3:45PM
#2:
That would be the middle of January.
Zertoss @ Dec 29th 2006 3:52PM
Playing online games before the days of easy-to-use voice chat really improved my keyboarding skills. Trying to call for help with the keyboard while under heavy fire will drive up your WPM pretty fast. Having a high number of WPM is a good job skill to have.
martinj88 @ Dec 29th 2006 4:53PM
Some Japanese schools are already using the DS to teach children English.
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/24/ds-schooling-japanese-students/
Why not bring it to the rest of the world.
JS Beckerist @ Dec 29th 2006 5:45PM
Hey anyone else use that Lego-Logo thing, where you had the triangle on the screen that could accept certain word commands, and transmit them to a Lego car (wired, of course) that would zoom around the room? This had to have been 1993 or earlier, easily.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Dec 29th 2006 9:42PM
So is his name Shaffer or Shaffen? You use both in the post.
Dukhat @ Dec 30th 2006 5:23AM
Games make people stupider, not smarter. I know plenty of poor people that make themselves dumber by playing games all day instead of reading a good book and expanding their knowledge.
A game is just a predetermined path that you follow along the "guise" of playing a game. Every single game out there is linear. You HAVE to do things a certain way.
The world doesn't need more drones.