So, yesterday I was reading the Seattle Times and came across this article Imagine School as Fun as Halo by Jerry Large, and found it quite interesting. Depending on how much of a video gamer you are you might know that Halo 3 came out at midnight on the 25th of September. This article was written the day before the release. The columnist comments that the makers of Halo understand how people tick and "if educators understood psychology as well as Halo designers, we could throw out the WASL and No Child Left Behind."
Jerry Large the collumnist also states that he understands that video games can get in the way of Homework and other activities, but that is why it is important as parents to make sure that those things come before picking up the controller.
The basis of this article makes the connetion that the technology of the game is new, but the story is old. But the way that the game was delelop still manages to captivate its audience a manner that stimulates young minds and Educators could learn from this. The writer attributes the success of theses games to the fact that they are stimulating and players grow as they go and there are multiple challenges, which get more difficult as the game progresses, along the way there are opportunities for many smaller achievements, and if the player does something right they are rewarded. The game makes you feel good about what you've accomplished and happy. Also, the game allows you freedom to make choices to with the end result being the same for all.
All in all I think that Teachers could learn from Halo. If we can take an old concept and enhance it with technology to entice learners then so be it. Another statement that I liked about this article is that we as educators have to allow our student freedom to make their own path to the reach the required destination. Students like to feel as though they are being independent and we need to be able to provide them with that freedom if it will aid to their learning. It may be hard work to do it but I be live that schools could be as fun as HALO.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Beth I agree with what you're saying i think that we need to bring education and learning up to the students level with technology. we can't expect kids to come down to our level, because i think that's where some of the classroom management problem arise from. I KNOW that school can be as fun as Halo!(but then again i don't play video games!)
Post a Comment