Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Gaming Panels Snippets of the Fishbowl ideas

maddybeckmann's picture

Gaming Panel

Issues in Gaming in the Classroom: 

"I am disappointed in the lack of education as it is, I would rather use resources to better the improvement of reading" 

"My son spends too much time playing game at home that are non-educational" 

"Addictive?" 

"Too many kids in the classroom" Will gaming take away from the personal attention of each child? 

"How and to what extent should gaming be involved?" 

"Learning and gender difference" ADD? How can we account for learning difference? 

Test scores and funding ? 

Positives in Gaming: 

"Don't you want you kid addicted to learning" 

"Could games change identity in a different way? Positive social interactions online" If a students could make decisions online maybe they could use this confidence in making decisions  in the "real world" "Shouldn't parents and teachers help to determine boundaries" 

I interact with people outside of the school community to learn and connect could this be more useful than gaming

I don't like school, games keep me engaged 

Comments

alesnick's picture

parent views

Interesting, Maddy -- I agree that parents are not wedded to the same old same old.  As a parent myself, I know many others who celebrate when their kids are engaged, rather than bored or frustrated, by school work.  Your point about schools investing in fostering knowledge and curiosity, rather than simply "adoption and implementation,"  is a great one.  My sense is that schools and districts would need to put more into communication -- processes and structures -- than they do now.  It could be done!
 

asweeney's picture

Thinking back on my role as a

Thinking back on my role as a "parent" in the simulation, I just want to add that I think parents would like the addition of a more gaming, playful, challening, motivating, and goal-oriented learning experience. The goals of these games, however, could still be things like reading skills or history content rather than just profieciency in Mindcraft. I think parents would welcome fun changes to our approach to education---and a mindful gaming approch might be perfect. I just think it might be better for schools to invest resources into a new attitude and knowledge about gaming rather than a specific game (Mindcraft in this example).