What was the chapter about/What does it tell us about teaching students?
Gee comments on how video games should simply be an extension of life- they externalize some of the the ways human beings operate in our real world situations. Gee argues that video games create a "projective stance," meaning that humans "see the world simultaneously as a project imposed on us and as a site into which we can actively project our desires, values, and goals" (p. 95). He also believes that there is a deep expertise in video game playing that calls to learners in school. Gee discusses what happens when you are playing a video game and the role the player takes. The player need to have additional skills when playing the game, not just simply knowing which buttons to push. They player needs to think like the character they are playing. He states that during a game, the player takes on " a stance
that is rooted in the knowledge, values, and ways of seeing and being in the world
of an authentic professional, an “expert" (p. 107). This can be applied to teaching because according to Gee, video games require a different kind of knowledge from students. They do not ask students to recite facts or answer multiple choice questions, rather instead they ask the student to survive in an unknown world, using what they already know about it. Students can experience these scenarios in an embodied way! If we could give students a "visual and embodied" experience of the content they are learning, they will build simulations in their head to creatively explore and test out actions. The students may fail, but they are in a predetermined environment that is safe. Through a video game-like simulation, students may actually feel first hand what it is like to experience what is happening. The learner becomes and stays engaged- which is what we know leads to the best type of learning!
Can this be applied to all content areas?
Yes, but it would be best for older, more mature grades. Students need to be responsible enough to handle the simulation correctly and think it through in the correct way!
Erin I thought you had a great point in your blog .... students need to be able to handle the simulations given to them and I do not think many elementary students would be able to. I pulled a lot of the same information from the chapter and thought you did great in explaining Gee in a simpler version!
ReplyDeleteHey Erin,
ReplyDeleteI think that a lot of kids would love the opportunity to do something like this in the classroom, maybe it could serve as enrichment for those that can handle it and not abuse the privilege. I know our elementary students couldn't :)
Erin I agree that these tasks would be tough for elementary school students. But I do believe that there can be modifications made to certain role-playing games that could create an activity that they would learn. Giving students a visual is very important and it is a different way to learn. Love that!
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