It was sparked by Ruth Clark’s article “ Why Games Don’t Teach. Also, please know that I respect the work of Dr. Ruth Clark and actually think that aside from the title most of the article is on target, we don’t have a universal definition of “game”, research is sort of fragmented and a paper prototyping is always the way to go. So, So looking at the argument, Why Games Don’t Teach, we have several interesting positions: Games Don’t Teach. He examined 274 documents related to the design, use and evaluation of games. GamesThe Argument. MORE >>

Here is a recap of some facts assembled by the Entertainment Software Association : A total of 254 universities and other institutions of higher learning in 37 states and the District of Columbia now offer courses and degrees in computer and video game design, programming, and art. Hart Research Associates, more than a third (35 percent) of parents play computer and video games and 93 percent of these parents have children who also play them. Over the past 12 years, annual computer and video game software sales have more than quadrupled to $11.7 billion. MORE >>

You do something great in a game, you get rewarded. Games provide incentives for doing what they want you to do. The search for gold coins, for example, encourages the player to explore the environment and learn more about the game-space in which they are playing. This is a good thing and is encouraged by the game developers. When you see a master warlock with all his robes, crowns and staff, you know that player has achieved the highest level possible in the game. Within a game, you are given visible signs of success. Games Games video games MORE >>

Here are two video previews of some really interesting instructional games being developed with funding from the US Department of Education. Gamers Games Games video games MORE >>

Gamification is using game-based mechanics, aesthetics and game thinking to engage people, motivate action, promote learning, and solve problems.” Now, when most people think of “gamification” they think of rewards, points, and achievements and how artificially incentivizing people to do things based solely on rewards is a losing proposition (and most of the time it is), so let’s look at the characteristics of video games that are useful, exciting, and engaging in terms of learning and, it turns out, in terms of video game play. Games MORE >>