Serious Gaming

When I did my student teaching in elementary school, my cooperating teacher told me how important games are when teaching students. She always said it was a way to “trick” students into learning. While classroom games were something I did often with my students, Serious Gaming is something I have done as well and am excited to learn more ways to incorporate it into my lessons.

 In the past all the games I have used online have been free. These music games have come from sites such as DSO for kids (Dallas Symphony Orchestra), SKSKids (San Francisco Symphony), BSO Kids (Boston Symphony Orchestra), and PBS Jazz Kids. I make these sites and may others available through a link on my school web page (Mission Trail Choirs). I encourage my students to use these sites at home as well.

One thing Futrelab has found when researching serious gaming is “Games provide a platform for active learning, that is, they are learning by doing rather than listening or reading, they can be customized to the learner, they provide immediate feedback, allow active discovery and develop new kinds of comprehension. there is also evidence of a higher level of retention of material.” I think this statement says a lot about the benefits if serious gaming. I also like how gaming can be customized to the learner since not all kids learn at the same rate.

It isn't always feasible for me to have my students using gaming because of the nature of my class but it is something I try to use when possible. Some of the ways I have incorporated gaming is right after concerts are over or at the beginning of new lessons. I have used them for students who need extra practice on a concept they do not understand or did not learn due to an absence. It is much easier to give these games as assignments because they are engaging to the students.

Ulicsak, M. & wright, M. (2010). Games in education: Serious Games. Bristol, Futurelab.