Computer Games in the Classroom

This week's blog answers this question:  Should students play (software) games in school? My answer is emphatically "Yes!" if the game reinforces the instruction.
     When I think about computer games in the classroom, I immediately think of "The Oregon Trail" by The Learning Company. If you were a child in the 1990s, odds are that you played "The Oregon Trail" or a "Carmen Sandiego" computer game. "Carmen Sandiego" is also by The Learning Company. Both of these games reinforced the instruction in the classroom, and my friends and I discussed what happened when we played the games. "The Oregon Trail" taught us about pioneers, and "Carmen Sandiego" taught us geography and history. We used typing games to build keyboarding skills. My friend and I looked forward to getting to "play" in the computer lab. We didn't really realize just how much we were learning.
     Computer games can provide skill practice, reinforce instruction, engage students, motivate students, and can also assess students' achievements, if implemented correctly. Computer games should not be just a way to pass the time until students get on the buses to go home.Computer games can be a powerful tool.
      The availability of computer games has increased with the wide usage of the Internet. Students are no longer limited to playing games that the teacher has on a CD (or in my day, a 3.5 inch disk). Teachers can find games online for students to "play". I use the term "play" a bit loosely because students think that they are just playing while teachers know that they are practicing skills or reinforcing concepts. Currently, there are many game websites that are not educational that students can access. Students can easily remember which game sites are not blocked by the school's servers and sneak to those websites very quickly. Students should be taught to avoid these game websites while at school and to enjoy getting to "play" on the educational websites that they are allowed to visit.
     We live in a world that is always upgrading to better technology. We must also upgrade our instruction to appeal to these students who are growing up in this technologically-geared world. Integrating technology in the form of computer games is just another way to reinforce instruction so that students with varying learning styles are reached and engaged to the maximum potential. Go play!

P.S. If you played "The Oregon Trail" as a child and are feeling a bit nostalgic, you can play it on your iPhone. It is available in the App Store for $0.99. I haven't gotten it on my iPhone yet, but I may just have to do so!