'SimCity' invades the classroom

         
         I encourage everyone to read this article I found on USA Today called "Video game invades classroom, scores education points". It talks about how educators and video game designers are getting together to design educational versions of popular over the counter video games such as 'SimCity'. This game not only teaches basic math and general knowledge skills, the new generation games go way beyond basic skills while being extremely creative. In the 'SimCity' game players act as the builder and mayor of a fictional town, essentially creating the place from the ground up: "They build infrastructure, industry and housing and try to attract residents. Once townspeople arrive, the mayor must scramble to keep them happy, productive and safe." 'SimCity' has even incorporated writing assignments such as asking students to prioritize public work projects and explain their reasoning in a series of drafts and revisions of an essay. It seems pretty evident that school is extremely boring to children, this is based on a study done by Indiana University's High School Survey of Student Engagement, which found that 65% of students are bored everyday in class. It seems that video games on the other hand are not boring to students, even though they challenge a student's intellect much like school does. The difference is the way that they are both presented. One being "old fashioned", "boring", and "out of date". The other "new", "creative", and something a student can take pride in, such as showing off their very own city which they designed from the ground up. I know when I was a student which one i'd prefer.
       The great thing about it is that 'SimCity' is just the tip of the iceberg. What's next? an educational versions of 'Call of Duty' and 'Grand Theft Auto'? Who knows what's possible. Now of course their are some that don't think video games are the way to go. "Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and The Nature Principle, says he worries about sitting kids down for more screen time. 'I'm sure this thing they're going to do will be wonderful in many ways, but the ultimate state of learning, I believe, is when a child or an adult is using all or many of their senses at the same time,' he says." Perhaps Mr. Louv is correct, but I do think we could reach a good and productive balance. I agree that too much of anything is not a good thing, particularly staring at a computer screen for long periods of time while interacting with nothing more than a computer. Connie Yowell, education director for MacArthur and one of the originators of GlassLab in 2011, says "video games turn the centuries-old model of learning on its head. For generations, she says, education has worked in essentially the same way: 'People have a learning experience and the learning experience ends, and people take a test,' she says. With well-designed games, the test is built into the game: Win a game of Halo and no one asks you to take a test on the material — you've mastered it." That is perfectly said by Mrs. Yowell. The sense of accomplishment at the end of a task makes the whole thing worthwhile. After finishing a game you feel accomplished and yet sad that the experience is over. After finishing a unit in school a student doesn't experiences the sense accomplishment, they are only relieved that the unit is over and that they don't have to deal with the content anymore. If we could present to children education in the form that video games take we could change education in more effective ways than ever before.     

Link to USAToday article: 
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/04/video-games-education-simcity/1963239/