Slashdot Mirror
Teaching History In Schools With Video Games
Joe writes "There's a story about a Massachusetts company, Muzzy Lane Software, creating a Civ-style simulation computer game to teach history to high school and college students. 'Our view isn't that you take the right video game, stick it in a classroom and everything gets better,' Mr. McCool said. 'But with the right tools, this can significantly enhance learning.'"
Beings aspergers AND pulling chicks... I enjoy the challenge!
So, like, the Nazis really made zombie monsters?
"Okay class, if you'll click on the GTA3 icon on your desktop, we'll begin."
... Civ-style simulation ...
- So, Johnny, what did you learn in school today?
- I learned that it is always good to back up your words with nuclear weapons, dad!
I hear there's rumors on the Slashdots
I remember the game, but I was always waiting for the (never released, sadly) sequel, "Where in Hell is Carmen Sandiego?"
So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
-=D34tH_fruM_4B0v3=- just carved up FRANZ_FERDINAND with his green shaft....
:)
World History UT2004.
+5:offtopic,but anti-American
Yes.. could we not bring up the TV show again? I still can't get the droning sound of their own "barber shop quartet" out of my head.
Hmmm.
... yup, that's my boy!
Hmmm.
Haha. I miss causing trouble by modifying Oregon Trail to display things like "Girl Rush!!" instead of "Gold Rush!!" and setting your bank account to $999999 instead of $1000.
...to teach them kids about how it used to be in the olden days. Every day we got Force Choked by evil Sith before breakfast, and we LIKED it!
Then your teacher could explain how that huy with the spear took out a stealth bomber. You know, just like what heppened in history.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
This all reminds me of Kim Stanley Robinson's alternate-world-history, The Years of Rice and Salt.
That said, playing the game taught me a hell of a lot about organization, being a naturally-disorg-ey person.
Intelligent Design: because MATH is HARD.
..to put games in schools. Now if only their marketing guy ("Mr. McPopular") can convince the principal to buy it.
How about a "learn the presidents" doom-like game? As you run along happily blasting George, Lincoln, and all the other lesser-known presidents, you can learn their names as well as when they were president: "You just killed James Garfield, who was our 20th president, who served for only one year in 1881 before he was (ironically) shot to death". Bonus points for getting them in order!
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
Imagine playing as Alexander the Great, Julius Cesar, Attilla the Hun, or any other historical figure trying to build an empire.
"Hello Lisa, I'm Genghis Kahn! You'll go where I go, defile what I defile, eat who I eat!"
Those were the days...
It was called Bible Adventures.
There were a couple of Jesus freaks in my school and that was the only game they were allowed to play on the NES.
It was AWFUL. You had to collect the animals for Noah's Ark, play as David and beat Goliath, escape from the lion's den I think. Oh and you also had to part the water and escape from Egypt or something.
It was so bad it made baby Jesus cry.
That brings back memories for me as well...memories of giggling with glee that I found a loophole to escape to the library to play video games under the guise of "education."
(This guy in TFA seems to get that. They don't call him Mr. McCool for nothing)
I loved the game, but honestly, I learned nothing about the Oregon trail from except that shooting bears is easier than shoot rabbits. And little sisters get sick and die a lot.
It the parent's responsability to teach their kids right from wrong! Video games do NOT teach our children how to carjack and... ummm shoot people.... Hmmmm...? oO(But they can teach our kids history and stuff, but ummmm.... hmmmm....)
Well great, now what do I do with all those video games don't teach kids stuff rants?
This one gang kept wanting me to join cause I'm pretty good with a bo staff.
> Now we know where they got their inspiration for Pokemon...
"I'm really hoping to get my Jesusaur enough experience to evolve into Saviortron."
Also:
"Abihu, I choose you!"
Get a program that can take certain factors and use it to predict the outcome. After all, knowing math means we can predict the answers to math problems. Shouldn't knowing history mean the same thing?
Been reading any Isaac Asimov books lately?
-- Mojo Tooth : exploring our world as only an idiot can.
I learned how to sneak more effectively from Thief.
Other than that, though, I think I mostly got incorrect information from games.
What we call folk wisdom is often no more than a kind of expedient stupidity.-Edward Abbey
I learned everything I know about geography and shooting indians from Oregon Trail on an Apple II in grade school. Should apply.
I'm glad someone finally realized the importance of history. There are millions of students growing up not knowing their heritage. We need to start teaching the basics. -Wolfenstein 3d -Dragon Lair -Gobblins -Space Quest -etc...
"If Pacman had affected us as kids we'd be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive music."
What? People do that? Oh damn...
The Neo-Bohemian Techno-Socialist
Do you think the users enjoy playing tester Thursdays?
Yeah really. He should do this on Monday night. "Tester Tuesday" has much more of an alliterative ring to it.
My dingo ate your honor student.
It was the only game in school that involved shooting guns. I also liked using humorous names that would end up on tombstones. "MYASS DIED HERE"