Virtual Games Hone Real Business Skills

NPR : Study: Virtual Games Hone Real Business Skills

This is somewhat old news in the gaming community, but it's always nice to hear it on NPR. This piece relates findings on an IBM study that online gaming (they are mostly referring to games that have social aspects to them, namely Massively Multiplayer Online Games--MMOGs) sharpens skills of collaboration, self-organization, and risk-taking.

Dan

Not playing around: Scientists say video games can reshape education - CNN.com

Here's a CNN article on a recommendation by the Federation of American Scientists for the government to fund more research into the use of video games in education.

I'm torn here. The problem, in my eyes, is that everyone wants to compete with the entertainment industry games for students' attention and I don't think that is going to be possible (ever?). However, on the other hand, if we can hook students on games in school, it may carry over into their home life.

I think that this is a great idea, but I worry that it will throw more money to researchers and result in nothing else besides vague, theoretical recommendations for teachers to "change the way they teach."

The Sims Teach German -- Video Games for Foreign Language Learning - Google Video

This is a really interesting presentation on the use of video games for language learning.

This particular presentation focuses on the game Sims2. At first, I thought that the approach was much too focused on reading, but the presenters really do go on to make a case for using this game to work many aspects of language.

I think that this is the best use of existing games that I've seen. Most projects focus on expensive development of games that are outdated before they can be released. This use focuses on somewhat easy and quick modifications that can be made for language learning (or other topic even).

I'd recommend that you check it out.