Video Games

By Jerin McIntosh

InThe

Classroom

Video Games and the• ““Modern video games Modern video games

teach students to teach students to think about think about complex complex worlds, where worlds, where everything interacts everything interacts with everything else.with everything else. Those lessons, he Those lessons, he said, are particularly said, are particularly valuable in social valuable in social settings, such as the settings, such as the workplace.”workplace.”

-James Paul Gee-James Paul Gee

Mind!

The SIMS 2

The game The The game The SIMS 2 has much SIMS 2 has much teaching potential teaching potential in the areas of:in the areas of:

- Home Economics- Home Economics

-Human -Human CommunicationCommunication

Choosing a Character…

• Students are given the Students are given the option to:option to:

• Start at Adulthood or Start at Adulthood or infancyinfancy

• Shape style and looksShape style and looks• Throughout game, SIM Throughout game, SIM

characters:characters:• Develop personalities Develop personalities

that mirror players that mirror players decisions and influence.decisions and influence.

• Create memories that Create memories that affect who you are, your affect who you are, your options and your options and your behaviorbehavior.

Direct your Direct your character character through life…through life…

Step into your

A personally customizable family

A Job or Career Development of Relationships A personally decorated home

After building your own character you can After building your own character you can begin to mold your very own virtual life! begin to mold your very own virtual life! Including the following:Including the following:

VirtualVirtual LifeLife!

Learning as you play:

☼ The Importance of PrioritizingThe Importance of Prioritizing☼ Financial SkillsFinancial Skills☼ Competent Decision-makingCompetent Decision-making☼ To Explore Ideas Through To Explore Ideas Through

Simulated Social InteractionSimulated Social Interaction

**The SIMS could potentially teach any child:

PrioritiesPriorities…

◊ All SIM characters are All SIM characters are driven by their driven by their needsneeds which must be managed which must be managed individually by the student.individually by the student.

◊ EXAMPLESEXAMPLES of necessary Needs: of necessary Needs:

Food, sleep, urination, energy, and Food, sleep, urination, energy, and social social contact. contact.

*Many needs vary depending on the SIM’s *Many needs vary depending on the SIM’s stage of development-> i.e. stage of development-> i.e. School, CareerSchool, Career

Learning as you play:

The FinancesThe Finances……

• Students will Students will learn to learn to manage manage financesfinances in order in order to fulfill their to fulfill their SIM’s needs.SIM’s needs.

Learning as you play:

-grocery shopping -home -grocery shopping -home furnishing etc.furnishing etc.

Decision-Making through Social Interaction:

• Through Through social interactionsocial interaction with other with other SIMS, students can form SIMS, students can form friendshipsfriendships an an relationships relationships which can be affected which can be affected by experiences.by experiences.

Learning as you play:

**These simulations will allow **These simulations will allow students to explore social ideas such students to explore social ideas such as:as:

loyalty, development of loyalty, development of aspirations, and aspirations, and social ethics.social ethics.

REFERENCES

• http://www.edge-online.com/news/study-games-effective-teaching-tools

• http://www.futurelab.org.uk/projects/teaching-with-games/games

• http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/16/video-games-in-the-classroom-teaching-the-scientific-method-to-digital-natives/

• http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/09/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm

• http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/139503/scribblers_abode_turning_the_sims_2.html

**ALL iMaGEs Courtesy: Google Images**