Student Reflection: "Why Are Video Games Good For Learning?" by JP Gee

Gee, James Paul. "Why Are Video Games Good For Learning?" Good Video Games and Good Learning. April 2007, 1-25. (http://www.academiccolab.org/resources/documents/Good_Learning.pdf).

James Paul Gee highlighted six points that indeed made video games good for learning:

1. "They can create an embodied empathy for a complex system" - He emphasized that good video games have underlying learning principles that educators should consider as well. For instance, "Civilization III" allows the player to experience a complex system and learn basic principles of history and social sciences.

2. "They are action-and-goal-directed preparations for, and simulations of, embodied experience" - In "Civilization III", the player externalize their understanding of ancient history and civilization to the present by building, manipulating this virtual world in a fun and challenging way. The goal is in the mind, and the simulation leads them to action. This video game embodies the whole experience.

3. "They involve distributed intelligence via the creation of smart tools" - Another example is "Full Spectrum Warrior" where the player acts as a professional soldier. The virtual characters (smart tools) made one internalize not only the knowledge but also "shape and explain how and why knowledge is developed and applied in the world."

4. "They create opportunities for cross-functional affiliation" - In playing some video games like "World of WarCraft", players across the globe have affiliations.In this case, social differences do not matter. In fact, it developed learning communities.

5. "They allow meaning to be situated" - With this experience, "they allow language to be put into the context of dialogue, experience, images, and actions."

6. "They can be open-ended, allowing for goals and projects that meld the personal and the social" - In playing these games, players have a sense of ownership. They "made their own goals based on their own desires, styles and backgrounds."

Knowing why video games are good for learning is important to me. Honestly, I am overwhelmed with my readings of Gee and Squire. However, it helped me to realize that games are not bad at all. As a language teacher, the fifth point of Gee is true. There are students who know the meaning of the words but do not know on how or when to use them. Sometimes, I am guilty of this, too. When students see the words with pictures and actions in video games, I believe students will understand better the usage of words. In fact, in my case I watch movies with subtitles. With this effort, I knew what is whirring, wince, squeak, squeal, and fidget because it accompanies with the action. Also, in the game "Darfur is Dying", that's the only time I knew what is forage. Amazing!