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Teachers Using Computer Games in Class

Posted by Zonk on

conq writes "BusinessWeek has a piece on the ways in which games are gaining acceptance in the classroom. From the article: 'Teachers across the country are bringing certain games into their schools as a way to pique students' interest in everything from history and politics to physical fitness and music theory. Among the most popular are Firaxis Games Inc.'s Civilization games, Take2's Railroad Tycoon, and Dance Dance Revolution.'"

5 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Stock Exchange by foundme · · Score: 4, Interesting

    One of our lecturers asked us to participate in a stock exchange game, and had the nerve to bet that we wouldn't do well.

    Sure enough we did well, mainly because we students as one big syndicate is simply too powerful in term of market manipulation, and the fact that one is more risk-taking with fake money. So I guess we did learn something out of it.

    --
    Please stop entering code 2,2,7,6,6,4
  2. Not New by warmgun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How is the news? I recall playing Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, and Odell Lake around 15 years ago!

  3. Lazy teaching! by Max+Threshold · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Sounds like lazy teaching to me. I don't know about everybody else, but the one day a week I got to spend half an hour playing Oregon Trail never piqued my interest in anything except slacking off.

    1. Re:Lazy teaching! by Max+Threshold · · Score: 3, Insightful

      So in other words, you learned shallow and fictionalized versions of the above. Well, good. At least you're in good company.

  4. Re:Old news to me...at least 10 years old. by pilkul · · Score: 4, Interesting
    kid with decent grades from becoming disinterested and totally clocking out of school (which I guess was considered a rational fear at the time)

    You laugh, but this is actually a serious problem. This study estimates that 25% of American gifted and talented students drop out of high school. Our lowest-common-denominator school system ensures that people with much more potential become demotivated and waste their chances.