So I guess this will definitely be the last blog. I know I kind of summed up my experience with the game last week but let me recap. I really did enjoy playing NHL 10 throughout this semester. I have pretty much stuck with NBA and Madden when it comes to sport games, so a hockey game was a good change of pace. I definitely learned that this game can have educational value also. This made me think. Do all video games then have some educational value? I began to think of this because NHL is not a game tailored towards an audience looking to gain educational value, yet I found educational value when playing the game. So after pondering about this question, I came up with the answer that yes, all video games have some sort of educational value when it comes down to it. Even if they are not teaching math, science, history, or english directly, they still instill certain skills and/or values that are developed through education. For example, pretty much all video games require problem solving skills and determination - two skills that are essential in school, and in the real world. Video games do not necessarily teach these in a clear cut manner, but in order to survive in the game, you need to be able to solve problems (or get out of situations) and you need to be determined to never give up. To me, that means that video games have at least some educational value. They may not prepare you for school exactly, but they definitely prepare you somewhat for the real world.
Peace out
Friday, April 16, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Blog Week 11
I guess the blogging is coming to an end soon. We have played our games all semester, and I guess we have to start asking ourselves whether we actually did get out of it what we wanted to get out of it. Did we learn anything? Did we have fun?
NHL 10 has definitely been fun for me to play and I do think I learned some things. I learned more about the sport of hockey in general, and I definitely learned how to apply Gees principles to video games and therefore how video games can be essential to helping children learn. I mean in my opinion, if we could learn solely through video games, that would just be great. Video games definitely keep our attention and they interest us way more than a boring lecture hall.
But back to Nhl 10. So, I definitely enjoyed playing the game, but as with any sports game, it got kind of repetitive. I mean after a while, there are only so many new things that you can learn, and once you do learn them, you become pretty unstoppable at the game. But overall, I definitely enjoyed playing it.
I am not sure if this is the last blog or not, or if we do one next week, but if it is, then it has been nice blogging for you. I had never blogged before so this was a new experience for me too. Thanks.
Oh yea I almost forgot - principle of the week: 16) Multiple Routes Principle.
There are multiple ways to make progress or move ahead. This allows learners to make choices, rely on their own strengths and styles of learning and problem-solving, while also exploring alternative styles.
This definitely applies to Nhl 10. In this game, one, there are different modes which require different tasks and strengths in order to move on. But also, within a game mode, there are different ways to go about winning and you do not have to do the same thing each game in order to win. Also, the player can play to his or her strengths and try to develop new strengths by going different routes.
Maybe see you later, maybe not?
NHL 10 has definitely been fun for me to play and I do think I learned some things. I learned more about the sport of hockey in general, and I definitely learned how to apply Gees principles to video games and therefore how video games can be essential to helping children learn. I mean in my opinion, if we could learn solely through video games, that would just be great. Video games definitely keep our attention and they interest us way more than a boring lecture hall.
But back to Nhl 10. So, I definitely enjoyed playing the game, but as with any sports game, it got kind of repetitive. I mean after a while, there are only so many new things that you can learn, and once you do learn them, you become pretty unstoppable at the game. But overall, I definitely enjoyed playing it.
I am not sure if this is the last blog or not, or if we do one next week, but if it is, then it has been nice blogging for you. I had never blogged before so this was a new experience for me too. Thanks.
Oh yea I almost forgot - principle of the week: 16) Multiple Routes Principle.
There are multiple ways to make progress or move ahead. This allows learners to make choices, rely on their own strengths and styles of learning and problem-solving, while also exploring alternative styles.
This definitely applies to Nhl 10. In this game, one, there are different modes which require different tasks and strengths in order to move on. But also, within a game mode, there are different ways to go about winning and you do not have to do the same thing each game in order to win. Also, the player can play to his or her strengths and try to develop new strengths by going different routes.
Maybe see you later, maybe not?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Blog Week 10
So I went back to playing my franchise. I hadn't played it in a while so it was nice to get back into the swing of things. I was a little rusty though, and I went 1-3 this week playing the computer. But, by going back to my franchise I was able to relate the game to another principle.
Principle of the week: 29) Transfer Principle.
Learners are given ample opportunity to practice, and support for, transferring what they have learned earlier to later problems, including problems that require adapting and transforming that earlier learning.
Obviously in this game, we are given ample amounts of opportunities to practice, whether it is online, against the computer, or against someone else. By doing this, we can transfer things that we have learned in previous games, and apply them to help us win in future games. We can adapt to things that we did not understand at first, and then change the way that we play in the future so that we have a better chance of winning the game.
Principle of the week: 29) Transfer Principle.
Learners are given ample opportunity to practice, and support for, transferring what they have learned earlier to later problems, including problems that require adapting and transforming that earlier learning.
Obviously in this game, we are given ample amounts of opportunities to practice, whether it is online, against the computer, or against someone else. By doing this, we can transfer things that we have learned in previous games, and apply them to help us win in future games. We can adapt to things that we did not understand at first, and then change the way that we play in the future so that we have a better chance of winning the game.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Blog Week 9
Unfortunately, I have not gotten a chance to play my game at all this week. But, because we have been playing these games for the entire semester, I am confident in my abilities to write a productive blog with a new principle of the week. Here it goes.
Principle of the week: 26) Bottom-up Basic Skills Principle.
Basic skills are not learned in isolation or out of context; rather, what counts as a basic skill is discovered bottom up by engaging in more and more of the game/domain or games/domains like it. Basic skills are genre elements of a given type of game/domain.
I think this principle pretty much speaks for itself. It says that basic skills are discovered from the beginning and you can amplify those skills by engaging more and more in the game. This applies perfectly to NHL 10, and any sports game really. At the beginning of the game, you only really know how to pass and shoot. But as you continue to play, you begin to learn new moves, diving checks, slap shots, directed shots, skip passes, etc... So by continuing to play the game, in its own domain, you obviously learn the basic skills early in the game, but then you continue to learn more advanced skills as you play. (bottom-up)
Principle of the week: 26) Bottom-up Basic Skills Principle.
Basic skills are not learned in isolation or out of context; rather, what counts as a basic skill is discovered bottom up by engaging in more and more of the game/domain or games/domains like it. Basic skills are genre elements of a given type of game/domain.
I think this principle pretty much speaks for itself. It says that basic skills are discovered from the beginning and you can amplify those skills by engaging more and more in the game. This applies perfectly to NHL 10, and any sports game really. At the beginning of the game, you only really know how to pass and shoot. But as you continue to play, you begin to learn new moves, diving checks, slap shots, directed shots, skip passes, etc... So by continuing to play the game, in its own domain, you obviously learn the basic skills early in the game, but then you continue to learn more advanced skills as you play. (bottom-up)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Blog Week 8
So this week, I have continued to play online. I figured that I would stay away from my franchise for a bit so that when I came back to it, I would not be so bored while playing it. Online is a lot different than playing the franchise. Playing against real people adds a new element that the computer AI did not have. It is not always the same thing when playing online because each person has their own strategy and style of play. When I play online, the thing that I try to do is figure out that strategy so that I can stop it as soon as possible.
The main thing that I wanted to blog about this week was the fighting in NHL 10. I am not quite sure why I haven't blogged about it before, because it really adds something fun to the game. While in a game, you can provoke a player from the opposite team into a fight. If they accept, you both drop gloves and swing your fists at each other.
Fighting in NHL 10 brings about a great principle for the week:
6) "Psychosocial Moratorium" Principle.
Learners can take risks in a space where real-world consequences are lowered
This applies perfectly to the fighting in NHL 10. For most of us, we do not want to get into fights with random people on the street - it just wouldn't be smart. But in the game, on the other hand, gamers are more than willing to start a fight with a random opponent. Gamers do not have to worry about feeling the pain or facing any real life consequences for the fight. No bruises and no punishments from the law.
Until next week....
The main thing that I wanted to blog about this week was the fighting in NHL 10. I am not quite sure why I haven't blogged about it before, because it really adds something fun to the game. While in a game, you can provoke a player from the opposite team into a fight. If they accept, you both drop gloves and swing your fists at each other.
Fighting in NHL 10 brings about a great principle for the week:
6) "Psychosocial Moratorium" Principle.
Learners can take risks in a space where real-world consequences are lowered
This applies perfectly to the fighting in NHL 10. For most of us, we do not want to get into fights with random people on the street - it just wouldn't be smart. But in the game, on the other hand, gamers are more than willing to start a fight with a random opponent. Gamers do not have to worry about feeling the pain or facing any real life consequences for the fight. No bruises and no punishments from the law.
Until next week....
Friday, March 12, 2010
Blog Week 7
So I have continued to play my franchise with the capitals in NHL 10, but throughout the week, I started to get bored of the same thing over and over - I guess that's what you get when you continue to play your sports franchise and nothing else. So, I thought a little bit deeper in to why I was getting bored, and I came up with the blatant answer - I was tired of playing with the same people over and over and continuing to play against the computer over and over. So, I decided to play online. This worked a lot better for me. It gave me a chance to play with a new team (I chose the Flyers) and I got the opportunity to play against real people instead of the steady play of the computer. This got me thinking, one reason that NHL 10, and other sports games are so attractive is because they have so many options. Not only can you play your franchise, but you can also play online against a random person across the globe - that is pretty interesting, to me at least.
Because of this, I thought of a good principle of the week:
Insider Principle.
The learner is an "insider," "teacher," and "producer" (not just a consumer) able to customize the learning experience and the domain/game from the beginning and throughout the experience.
In NHL 10, the learner (gamer) is able to decide which form of the game he/she wants to play (customizing the learning experience) from the beginning, and he/she also has the opportunity to try different parts of the game whenever he/she wants. It makes the player feel good that he/she is the learner, but also the teacher. It gives us a sense of power and allows us to play on our own time instead of following someone's agenda other than our own.
Because of this, I thought of a good principle of the week:
Insider Principle.
The learner is an "insider," "teacher," and "producer" (not just a consumer) able to customize the learning experience and the domain/game from the beginning and throughout the experience.
In NHL 10, the learner (gamer) is able to decide which form of the game he/she wants to play (customizing the learning experience) from the beginning, and he/she also has the opportunity to try different parts of the game whenever he/she wants. It makes the player feel good that he/she is the learner, but also the teacher. It gives us a sense of power and allows us to play on our own time instead of following someone's agenda other than our own.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Blog Week 6
Gaming this week has been a little slow. I went home on wednesday for spring break so I did not get a chance to play a lot this week. I was only able to play one game in my franchise and I lost, so I am now 11-5. Still a good record, but I want to get back towards winning when I get back from spring break.
Principle of the week: 12) Practice Principle.
Learners get lots and lots of practice in a context where the practice is not boring (i.e. in a virtual world that is compelling to learners on their own terms and where the learners experience ongoing success). They spend lots of time on task.
In this game, players spend lots of time doing certain things over and over. Essentially, every game is somewhat the same, because the object is to score more goals than the opposing team. You learn to pass over and over, shoot over and over, and defend over and over. As you continue to play, you learn strategies that work the best against certain defenses, and then you use those strategies over and over. Basically, you get A LOT of practice doing things in this game, and it is a virtual world that excites the gamer and, as a result, the gamer spends a lot of time on the task.
Look for more gaming after spring break
Principle of the week: 12) Practice Principle.
Learners get lots and lots of practice in a context where the practice is not boring (i.e. in a virtual world that is compelling to learners on their own terms and where the learners experience ongoing success). They spend lots of time on task.
In this game, players spend lots of time doing certain things over and over. Essentially, every game is somewhat the same, because the object is to score more goals than the opposing team. You learn to pass over and over, shoot over and over, and defend over and over. As you continue to play, you learn strategies that work the best against certain defenses, and then you use those strategies over and over. Basically, you get A LOT of practice doing things in this game, and it is a virtual world that excites the gamer and, as a result, the gamer spends a lot of time on the task.
Look for more gaming after spring break
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