Games, Simulations and Virtual Reality

What makes video games so engaging? [Provide at least three findings of the research) How can teachers scaffold the gaming experience? Finally, do you think that teachers should use games, simulations and VR in the classroom? (30pts)

Video games are engaging because there is always an answer; with more than one way to get to the answer, nothing is impossible, competition and collaboration are both healthy states, there are clear rules, games provide clear roles, effort is related to outcome, games simulate consequences.

Teachers can scaffold the gaming experience by showing that games can be beneficial to classroom work.

I believe that teachers should use games, simulations and virtual reality in the classroom, as long as it correlates with the class. Its an easy way to attract student attention to a subject and it helps to make learning a fun experience.

NOW - Play a few games!

(50 pts.)

The best game that I played was Verb Viper. It is an English related game. I teaches kids the proper placement of verbs. I believe that this game would be good in an English classroom because of the way it helps to teach verbs. I liked this game because it was entertaining and also because of the fact that after each level it showed you what you missed.