When it comes to gaming in the classroom, it seems everyone has an opinion. Education reform is always tricky, and it’s very important that, with our children’s futures at stake, all parties get their facts straight.
This game-based learning infographic put together by Online College Courses is useful… to a certain extent. It’s easy to be drawn in by snappy visuals. However, if you look closely at the content of the arguments, you might find them to be a little lacking.
For example, under the “Concerns” column, it reads, “Some teachers and schools believe that other classroom necessities, like books, should be prioritized before wants, like video games.” But that’s not a valid argument against using games in classrooms. Proponents of game-based learning are hardly suggesting that games constitute 100% of a kid’s education. Books can still take a priority.
The argument that teachers are untrained is questionable too, because like any education material, games should absolutely come with training and suggested lesson plans for teachers. And though the debate about violence in video games continues, it’s largely an irrelevant talking point because most teachers don’t use violent games to teach their students about math and science.
There are plenty of real arguments for resisting games in the classroom. Lack of funding, fear of subjecting kids to too much screen time, fear of finding the wrong balance between fun and hard work, and the disinclination to teach young people instant gratification are just a few. However, the positive arguments are plentiful, and as long as the debate continues, informed parents and educators should make sure they have their facts straight.
(Source: Ed Tech Magazine)
