Week 14-Using Games for Teaching and Learning

Games have been used in education to give students an opportunity to learn in new ways. Many students need to feel engaged or take a break from traditional classroom learning. Games can be used to "sneak in" learning while taking pressure off students. I remember playing Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego as a child. At the time, I thought I was getting time off, but I can now see the benefit I received from playing these games. Gaming can be used as an addition to classroom learning but should not replace it entirely. It does provide motivation to learn, though, and can absolutely provide a lot of tangible benefits to students.

As a future teacher, it is important that I have a great awareness of educational games and how they can be used in the classroom. I can use games in the classroom to keep children focused while letting them "relax" with a fun game. I need to know the benefits that the games provide and the types of students that can and should use them. If I can master all of this, then games can only become a tool in my teaching arsenal.



This video demonstrates someone playing the Mario Teaches Typing game. It shows that a game can seem to just be a fun game, but can really teach valuable skills. In this case, the game teaches the user to be a better, faster typist while playing a fun game. I remember playing games like this and thoroughly enjoying myself.