My First Gaming Success

For the past three weeks, I have been reading many interesting articles, blogs, websites and discussion forums on topics associated with Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL), and I must admit that I have become quite intrigued by the potential that games have for teaching and learning.  What I thought was just an entertaining (for some) pastime that resulted in ‘mushy-brain’ after too many hours of screen-time, it seems that well-designed games offer the player an experience in which they can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the ability to self-assess their strengths and areas for improvement, and gain factual geographical, historical, political and social information.  With this new understanding, I have been motivated to delve deeper into the theory and literature around the topic of DGBL and to thoughtfully consider how this can impact my own teaching and learning practice (in my classroom and at home).

Of course, this means that I have to actually access and engage in playing games myself.   For me, however, this is where the challenge began.  I am a very logical, methodical and analytical person.  When I get a new appliance, product, or toy, I read the instructions.  When I learn a new skill, I refer to the text and diagrams, make notes and work through the process step-by-step.  If there is a tutorial, I am the person that actually watches it just to make sure that I haven’t missed anything that I might need to know.  I am good at researching information, considering various perspectives, making meaning, and applying what I have learned.  So in my initial foray into game-playing I became quickly frustrated as I realized that digital game-playing doesn’t naturally fit with my personal learning style.

The first game I decided to play was MineCraft, with the intention to use it to teach students about the concept of building communities.  Given that my four-year old son seems to easily navigate through this game on my iPad and his dad’s iPhone, I figured that it would be fairly easy for me to figure out.  Only five minutes in, however, I was already frustrated trying to build my community.  I was able to put blocks on the screen but I couldn’t move them around to construct my vision of a functional building.  When my son informed me that zombies come out and “attack you and eat you and kill you” when night falls, I wasn’t confident in the educational application of this game (or perhaps that should be the teacher) to teach Grade 2 students about communities. 

I decided to search for another game that might be more applicable for teaching about communities.  Through a search of iTunes, I found two Apps that looked like they might fit the bill.  The first one was called Pioneers.  Surely this would work for teaching about the historical settlement of communities in Canada.  Again, however, this was a bust.  There appeared to be quests like building a fire, constructing a bridge and harvesting crops, but there was nothing to guide me on how to accomplish any of these tasks.  The little man walked around on the screen and while I touched, resized and searched all over the screen, I just couldn’t figure out how to get him to go where I wanted him to go or to engage in the task that the game was prompting me to do.   I was almost in tears and when my husband came to help me out.  I just became more embarrassed and frustrated that I couldn’t seem to make sense of what was seemingly, a simple game.

I didn’t give up, however, and decided to give Cityville Hometown a try.  The premise of this game was immediately clear to me and I quickly learned how to navigate the game, using the tool bars and menus.  The characters in this game gave me suggestions regarding strategies and ‘next moves’ that provided me with the confidence that motivated me to continue play.  The logic of the game was revealed and I and actually began to start thinking about my choices in the game.  I even started to have fun.  I have since asked for the App to be loaded on the iPads at our school and am looking forward to introducing it to my Grade 2 class.  My first success with gaming!