Tyler Evison

Prof McBeth-Smith
T-Th 10:00-11:30
12/1/15
Video Games in the Educational Setting and My Position
As my parents grew up as children, their main source of entertainment was going out side,
making a mess in the dirt, absorbing some sun, and breathing some fresh air. Now a days things are a
little different. I can almost guarantee you that growing up I spent far less time out side then either one
of my parents. And I know exactly why, video games. Growing up my family had a few gaming
systems, a Super Nintendo, a Dream Cast, and a Nintendo 64. Even with all these different systems I
never really got into gaming until I got my very own computer in 2002. Since then computer games as
well as console games have been a very large part of my life, unfortunately for my wife. Since my first
computer games have only gained more popularity and have continued to get bigger and better. This is
why I feel drawn to this topic. As the gaming industry gets bigger its leaking into other fields you
wouldn't expect, some doctors use games (although more advanced) use it to advance techniques to be
used in medicine. Another area video games are gaining popularity is in the educational setting. And as
it turns out there are a fair number of people who do not believe this is a good idea. This is the topic we
are going to focus on. They say that the deficits out way that of any benefits it could offer. Then there
are those that fully understand the concept, and believe that they are playing games such as Halo or
Call of Duty. This is very much not the case. The theory behind video games in the class room, or the
educational setting is that not all students learn the same way. Though this is already widely known, its
those differences in learning abilities that the aspect of video games are trying to play on. This going to
be more what we are going to focus on the most. I believe it is indeed a valid way to help students
learn. Heck even growing up in school my self I've played some computer games in school. The
Organ Trail was a game I had played and I personally felt that there are definitely aspects that are very
educational with the game, but unfortunately it has been many years since I have played the game in

school and cannot remember to much of the game. Though I absolutely believe that video games in the
educational setting can be very beneficial there are of coarse those who believe other wise. As of most
things as I began to study this modern issue I realized there is a lot of questions to be asked, and its not
as simple as one would think to introduce and properly utilize this teaching method.

One of the most obvious questions to ask is, is it even beneficial to allow students to play video
games in school or other educational settings. Well accord to the findings by researchers Saez- Lopez,
Miller, Vazquez-Cano, and Dominguez-Garrido., who extensively studied the effects of MinecraftEdu
in the educational settings. In their conclusion they say We did not notice significant improvements in
academic results after using MinecraftEdu from the tests applied... (page 125). In reading this research
I found that perhaps their methods were lacking to get it to work. This paper I did however find
difficult to read as it seemed to be pure academic and there fore written as such. But from what I gather
from the study is that maybe perhaps they didn't implement MinecraftEdu properly. For those who do
not know what MinecraftEdu is, its website defines it as We make a special version of Minecraft
specifically for classroom use. It contains many additions to the original game that make it more useful
and appropriate in a school setting. It was developed by a team of programmers and educators to get
its maximum potential. Upon my first thought of the results of their finding was that perhaps video
games in the educational wasnt as cracked up as it sounds. As I really thought about the findings I
realized that I was wrong. The study doesn't say that MinecraftEdu raised the test scores of the students
involved, true enough. But it also hwoever doesn't say that their test scores suffered. There was no
noticable difference. This means that the students who used the video games had the same test scores as
those student tested in the standard curriclum. Which to me shows that video games are just as
effective. One of the greatest thoughts of video games in the educational setting is that all student do
not learn the same. Some require more hands on, some verbal, and some repeative. It is believed that
video games are the way to get all these and more into one. This first study isnt the only on ei read

where teachers have used MinecraftEdu, Shane Asselstine also used MinecraftEdu. Though it started
as a before and after school program it then turned into a a core coarse for math. Students were given a
certain amount of money and were required to make a zoo using all the purchases that a normal zoo
would have to do as well. At one point the students realized they needed more money to hire a zookeer
to help take care of the animals they found, so the students put together a budget and made a
presentaion to gain the extra budget (Meyer). One of my most favorite examples I have read was a
teacher name Lucas Gillispie used the world famous game World of Warcraft to help teach his students
reading and writing skills, WHAT? Maybe the first question to pop into your mind, I know it was mine.
But it turns out he had some fantastic ideads. Gillispie has the kids research the lore and mythos of the
world of warcraft. The students are then required to create a character as well as a back story for that
character. In addition to the back stories the students are also required to write reflections about the
experiances they had in the game while working alone and as teams to complete quests (Meyer). But I
as I mentioned before its not only just a matter of if its effective or not but how to make it work.

Digital game-based learning has been recognized as an effective approach... (Chen and
Hwang) in terms of video games in the educational setting. The authors then states researchers have
indicated that the effectiveness of educational computer games might not be as significant as expected
if they are developed without embedding appropriate learning strategies... (Chen and Hwang). This is
so very you cant just introduce something and expect it to work. You need to work it in and change and
modify things to make it work and have everything mesh and blend together. Though I had not known
it at the time I actually learned quiet a few ways of incorperating video games. One method used was
by a teacher named Messer were she tought a subject for 15 weeks then had a 3 week deep-dive to
help drill in what was taught (Meyer). In the same paper written by Meyer she talks about a teacher
named Asante Johnson from Washington , DC. She uses video game in math and science classes for her
students. Her math version of the game allows the students to play a 3 minute video game when they

correctly answer a group of questions. The article "K12 Video Games Grow Up." written by Matt
Zalaznick actually focus almost entire on WHY video games work. Zalaznick made me realize its not
just how they are meshing games into curriculums is the only important thing but also the kind of game
that is being used. How education games are being made more engaging is theyre becoming more
like commercial games, according to a Ben Grimley, vice president of education products and
services at Tribal Nova, is one way video games in the education setting is beginning to be more
effective (Zalaznick). The author also talks to other people who say that learning in a video game
shouldn't just be telling the student what to do but to let them take ownership of their story and their
learning. The author also says that Shalom Fisch, who is president and founder of MediaKidz,
compares makign a educational game game to that of Sesame Street. In that if the show is based on
the letter B, you will find that it is included in just about every aspect of the show (Meyer). Its the same
for the video games. The subject or idea needs to be tangent in the entire game, not just introduced and
left at that. Another thing the paper written my Zalaznick made me realize is video games are
appropriate for students of all abilities and levels because difficulties can be changed and feedback is
immediate so the kids know what is working and what is not. Another thing that is touched upon in this
article is that teachers can track student learning in certain games. So they can see were exactly
students are struggle and be able to see how the class is doing comapred to a national level to other
students playing the same games. Another question that was brought ot my attention is if methods used
in formal settings could be as effeciant in the informal settings and visa versa (Koutromanos and
Avraamidou). Though I didn't find any actualy studies done on this particular question I feel like I can
give a pretty decent answer based on the reasher I have done, logic, and my own experiences in the
gaming world. And well the answer I would have to give would be... No... the two methods are more
thank likely not interchangable. The reason being is that games in the informal, even for educational
reason, will not be as effective because its far to easy for the student to get off topic and either find a
way to disctract them selves in the game or simple change their games. Now I am not saying that that

you cannot use video games to teach and help students learn out side of class but you would need
redfined methods to do it.

So now its time for that dreaded part to go back over everything we already talked about. Well
in this case I think its a good idea. In this paper I brushed on and past so many ideas and concrepts it
might be kinda of confusing to be bale to tell exactly where I stand and what my thoughts are. As I
stated in my opening, when I started this assignment I attacked it with only one question in mind. That
question of coarse is if video games can be used in an educational settings. And well when I sat down I
thought I was certain of the answer that not only will it be beneficial but it would create even greater
test scores. Turns out I was only partially wrong. That the study I read that actually verified test scores
food no increase in actual test result compared to that of curriculum students. So though it maybe not
be a better method it does show that it is as equivalent in effectiveness. The other thing it made me
realize is that you need an effective way to utilize the game. That just the games by itself probably isnt
going to work.. you could use it to help concrete things already learned or even as an award system.
Though I came across a lot of new information while researching this paper, wow who would have
though. I'm still a firm believer that video games in the educational settings can be a really good thing
if used properly with the right implications, the proper kind of games, and prepared students.

Chen, Nian-Shing, and Gwo-Jen Hwang. "Transforming the classrooms: innovative digital game-based
learning designs and applications." Educational Technology Research & Development Apr.
2014: 125+. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Koutromanos, George, and Lucy Avraamidou. "The Use Of Mobile Games In Formal And Informal
Learning Environments: A Review Of The Literature." Educational Media International 51.1
(2014): 49-65. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Meyer, Leila. "4 Innovative Ways To Teach With Video Games." T H E Journal 42.5 (2015): 20-24.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
"MinecraftEdu - About." MinecraftEdu - About. Www.minecraft.com/about Web. 9 Dec. 2015.
Sez-Lpez, Jos-Manuel, et al. "Exploring Application, Attitudes And Integration Of Video Games:
Minecraftedu In Middle School." Journal Of Educational Technology & Society 18.3 (2015):
114-128. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
Zalaznick, Matt. "K12 Video Games Grow Up." District Administration 49.10 (2013): 40-45. Academic
Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.