Saturday, February 13, 2010

Is It Healty To Eat The Skins Of Beets

Serious Games Games (seriously): when the games are serious education

Serious Games: Serious Games
When the games are serious education

Serious games are developed each day a little more thanks to a growing demand from high young and old alike. Serious games, these are games yes, but educational.
Also, what are serious games are alike and they all? That can make serious games in education? Serious games can supplant teachers and other educators?

1) Serious Games, Serious games: what are we talking about?
Serious games are games that by definition provide knowledge, skills, abilities, one who plays. Could be considered serious games as educational games, that is to say who can have fun while learning (edutainment). Serious games tackle multiple topics: dirable development, mathematics, geography, history, technology, architecture, etc.. In short, there are all areas that are treated in some way by the school. But where is the boundary between real serious games and games to educational grounds? In Indeed, many games that claim to provide knowledge and skills relevant to (future) citizens, even though it is only a pretext. Thus, developing a city is it a serious game? Yes by his side economic management, urban planning, consideration of multiple constraints, not by its options "automatic destruction" by its code-cheats (cheat codes), etc.. In short, any game can be an element in scope "serious" (in the sense of the term education), but it is important not only entertaining options exceed these educational considerations. On the other hand, one can observe that some games are totally Education: games geographiques.com such deals really learning knowledge without "frills" useless. But these games, particularly popular with children, they really bring something on the educational side? They alter the relationship of students to teaching by developing self-learning, with all potential hazards that may cover?

2) When the serious games (dis) serve pedagogy
Serious games are located in schools with student applicants for these games. When students have free time, they want to play. Thus, just the word "game" for students interested in serious games and learning. Indeed, students clearly prefer the "serious games" on the Internet at the same price he could have! Why? Simply because students are autonomous (they want to learn by themselves) and above is the notion of "games". While these are serious games, but the term "game" resonates in the minds of students as a vital keyword. Also, the students really feel like learning something or do they do it only for entertainment? Actually, as far as I can see in the CDI, students learn without even realizing it. They play, replay and especially each other. I have never seen students involved in both work independently and in support that with these games seriously.
But what motivates them in these games so seriously? In fact, students are fond of evaluation. They want to know what they are capable and most importantly, be the best. And for that, they acquire a key concept that will serve them throughout their studies, particularly in sport: warm up, train, test, improve, repeat, etc. to be the best. This spirit of Competition is not bad at all, because it is not to win to crush the other, but to win to show that we managed to exceed the limits that were thought impassable. Well, I finished singing the praises of these games seriously. Returning to the heart of the problem posed: serious games can they replace traditional pedagogy?

3) Serious Games and Education: Friend or Foe?
Pedagogy is a business professional. This is to use techniques and strategies in order to acquire each, in its diversity, knowledge which are useful and which are prescribed by the School in particular. Also, serious games provide no education: these games are aimed equally at everyone and they are automated. The evaluation is common to all, regardless of his age, his progressions, etc.. While serious games offer different levels, but this does not change the problem raised. Thus, serious games can learn, but how to ensure the knowledge gained by everyone, and especially how to ensure that students can transfer this knowledge. Besides, I speak of knowledge, but this knowledge will be translated may never know: in fact, how a student may only incorporate such knowledge? For the example of geographical games, he certainly knows about the time that the city of Besancon is located in the Doubs, "right image" as they say (instead of "east on the map) . But outside the game, will they remember it, will they see the usefulness of this knowledge?
Serious games are very useful for reinforcing knowledge previously acquired, to transfer some of this knowledge to create meaning and knowledge and then to prepare the ground for knowledge that will come later and which will be presented by a course teacher.

Serious games are games very useful because they allow students to consolidate knowledge and to engage in a "work". Students themselves do not feel like learning because they think they only "play". Admittedly, the game helps to train the individual, but through serious games, such training is through the intellectual contribution of knowledge. Serious games provide support or knowledge. Students are fully engaged in them, not hesitating to help each other ... and conduct small competitions full of fair play. But the role of teachers and especially des enseignants est indispensable. Non pas forcément pour être derrière les élèves lorsqu'ils jouent à ces jeux sérieux (sans quoi il y a fort à parier qu'ils cesseraient de jouer), mais pour s'appuyer sur ces jeux pour aider les élèves à apprendre. Oui, il est impératif que les enseignants considèrent avec sérieux les jeux sérieux, d'autant qu'ils leurs permettent de gagner du temps. Les élèves n'ont pas l'impression d'apprendre et ne rechigneront certainement pas à une petite séance imposée de "jeux sérieux", même depuis chez eux.
- Les "Jeux sérieux" (les vrais, c'est-à-dire ceux qui auront été préalablement selected by one or more teachers) should be allowed to students at any time on their hours of study.
- Rely on serious games can be a godsend for teachers. These should not be afraid to say: "Tonight, you play this game, we'll talk tomorrow."

Now there is only wait and hope that serious games are still developing not falling in the drift of demagogy, options "unreal" and remain true games that develop a wealth of knowledge or skills. To be continued!

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