A new research report – How are Digital Games Used in Schools has just been released by a group called European Schoolnet, a consortium of 31 ministries of education in Europe. This study was sponsored by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe , representing companies in the interactive software industry.
How are Digital Games Used in Schools covers the use of games in schools in Europe: video games, computer games, online games that run on consoles, computers, handhelds or mobile phones.
– Full report (180 page PDF) – English version
– Synthesis report (40 page PDF) – English version
The researchers interviewed over 500 teachers, 30 decision-makers, and included 6 case studies and a review of the scientific literature. They came to some interesting conclusions, both from a teaching and learning standpoint.
- “The teachers who are involved in these practices leave nothing to improvisation in their pedagogical use of these games; on the contrary, they prepare them very carefully.”
- “Experiments in the classroom use of games are bringing teachers together in a community of practice, and associating the whole educational community and parents around the pupils’ achievements.”
- “Practices centred on games rehabilitate more traditional teaching tools in the eyes of the pupils.”
European Schoolnet also established a social network as part of this study for teachers interested in using digital games in the classroom.
From the conclusion – “The investigations that have been made show that electronic games favour a way of learning that is particularly in tune with the modes of learning now regarded as effective. The table below summarizes several major principles of learning that are now known and recognized. It relates them
to the characteristics of electronic games and the modes of use that they generate. The correspondences that
emerge argue in favour of a‘re-opening of the case’ [of using digital games in the classroom].”
– Full report (180 page PDF) – English version
– Synthesis report (40 page PDF) – English version
Sylvia
Parents are not worried about the supervisied environment of educational video games in the classrooms, but are concenred the implication of message children get when playing video games under no guidance.
I have enountered many cases that parents have to lock up children’s cmputers and feel even want to “smash” the computers beause their children just could not get off vieo games. Just take a look those internet bars business in China and Korea, what are those children doing? Doing researchs on “green enironment issues”? Of course not, they just play video games.
What most children do with their wih iphones? Apart from receiving messages, they play video games of course and even in the classrooms when teachers are teaching.
I will read the study. However, due to the fact that it was sponsored by members of the gaming software industry, I am somewhat credulous regarding its findings, and subsequent recommendations.
I would also be interested in reading alternative views to video games in the classroom. All in all, we need to confirm sources while remaining cognizant of any type of media bias.