The Sims in the Classroom?
A third of teachers are using computer games in the classroom and a majority believe they improve pupils’ skills and knowledge, a survey suggests.The survey of 1,000 teachers in England and Wales suggests a quarter also personally use them in their free time.
Over half of the 1000 teachers questioned by NestaFuturelab said they would use them in future and believed they were a”good motivational tool”.
But two thirds expressed concerns they could lead to anti-social behaviour.
‘Engaging’
Despite the popularity of computer games, some teachersalso said they believed games re-inforced stereotypes in theirpresentation of women and people of other nationalities.
But a large majority of teachers believe there areeducational benefits: 91% thought they developed motor and cognitiveskills, and 60% believed they would develop thinking skills and acquirespecific knowledge.
The next stage of the year-long project undertaken byNesta Futurelab and game-maker Electronic Art - called Teaching withGames - will test the use of commercial computer games The Sims 2,RollerCoaster Tycoon3 and Knights of Honour, and help develop lessonplans to support the use of these and other games.
They will also consider the impact of using non-commercial games, such as those available from the BBC’s online content.
Professor of Education at the University of Bristol,Angela MacFarlane who is involved in the research, said it wasimportant to learn more about the “complex learning” which games couldfacilitate.
“Early research has shown some powerful outcomes in the classroom, but we need to understand how, when and when not to use games to support education.” via BBC News
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