“Good Video Games and Good Learning” – James Paul Gee

I love the way this article lists the number of learning principles involved in “good” video games. As the Gee points out, “Good video games incorporate good learning principles…challenge and learning are a large part of what makes good video games motivating and entertaining. Humans actually enjoy learning, though sometimes in school you would not know it”.  I completely agree with this last sentence. Growing up I can remember feeling a sense of accomplishment and probably pride when I learned something. It’s a good feeling to have and I think other students like to feel this way too.  But, sometimes in the school classroom learning becomes so regimented and monotonous that we lose this feeling.

As I mentioned in my previous post I am in agreement that video games are a great source for challenging and complex thinking and problem solving that is also engaging and enticing. But I thought this article was a great resource for teachers and academic administration to see the complex learning principles that can be encountered through a wide variety of video games that students are currently playing. One of the 16 learning principles that really stood out to me was #11 “Pleasantly Frustrating”. This is the idea that students feel the games are “doable”, but challenging, which is highly motivating for learners. As I’m sure anyone who has read any of my blog posts would know, I put a high price on engaging students, motivating students, and getting them excited to learn.  Love the idea that video games impose a challenge that they are motivated to take on.

Gee leaves us with a very important question at the end of the article: “How can we make learning in and out of school, with or without using games, more game-like in the sense of using the sorts of learning principles that young people see in good games every day, when and if they are playing these games reflectively and strategically?” And to be quite honest, I don’t know the answer but believe it’s a highly important topic to delve into and begin to find the answers. Using reflection and strategies are the types of learning skills and techniques that students can really begin to apply in all facets or their life and should thus be a major focus in the classroom. I’m open to any suggestions of how to begin to do this more in the classroom?