You are here:

Training by Gaming: Preparing Teachers of Today for Tomorrow’s Learning Environments
ARTICLE

, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States ; , Arizona State University, United States ; , University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States

Journal of Technology and Teacher Education Volume 19, Number 3, ISSN 1059-7069 Publisher: Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education, Waynesville, NC USA

Full Text

Abstract

Videogames have become a cultural and commercial phenomenon across the globe. Researchers and educators have been working to understand how to leverage these tools in education. However, there are few training opportunities that focus on the positive attributes of games in education for pre-service teachers. This paper describes the preliminary findings associated with training pre-service teachers to use Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) in their classrooms. We examine how a simple instructional intervention may emphasize salient, educational attributes of MMOGs (e.g., motivation, reading and literacy, communication, collaboration, exploration, problem solving, and situated activity) and reduce the perceived curricular cost of MMOGs. To do so, this research applied a learning in technology perspective that describes immersive technology as a medium in which the environment and player become one. Specifically, 13 participants were assessed in terms of their perceptions of games in general, their views about the potential for games in education, their views about the negative consequences of games in education, and their content knowledge about the World of Warcraft. Participants’ discussions following the intervention were also analyzed for themes relevant to learning. Implications for teacher preparation are discussed.

Citation

Schrader, P.G., Archambault, L.M. & Oh-Young, C. (2011). Training by Gaming: Preparing Teachers of Today for Tomorrow’s Learning Environments. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 19(3), 261-286. Waynesville, NC USA: Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education. Retrieved August 5, 2024 from .

© 2011 Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education

Keywords

References

View References & Citations Map
  1. Alvermann, D. E. (1990). Reading teacher education. In W. R. Houston, M. Haberman, & J. Sikula (eds.), Handbook of research on teacher education:
  2. Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2001). Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: a meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Psychological Science, 12 (5), 353-359.
  3. Apple, M. W. (2007). Ideological success, educational failure?: on the politics of no child Left behind. Journal of Teacher Education, 58, 108-116.
  4. Bailey, C. (2006). China’s full-time computer gamers. BBC News. Retrieved September 18, 2010, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5151916.stm
  5. Barnett, J.H. & Archambault, L.M. (2010). The Gaming effect: how Massive Multiplayer online Games Incorporate Principles of economics. Techtrends, 54(6), 29-35.
  6. Bean, T. E., Sinatra, G. M., & Schrader, P. G. (2010). Spore: Spawning evolutionary misconceptions? Journal of Science Education and Technology, 19 (5), 409-414.
  7. Cohen, P. (2008) World of Warcraft adds another half million subscribers. The Industry Standard. Retrieved october 10, 2010, from http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/12/24/world-warcraft-adds-another-half-million-subscrib-
  8. Cuban, L. (2000). Computers oversold and underutilized: Computers in the classroom. NY: harvard university Press.
  9. Dieterle, E., & Clarke, J. (2007). Multi-user virtual environments for teaching and learning. Retrieved october 15, 2010, from http://muve.gse.harvard.edu/rivercityproject/documents/MuVe-for-tandL-dieterle-clarke.pdf
  10. Gee, J. P. (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. New York: Palgrave/St. Martin’s
  11. Gentile, D. A., Lynch, P. J., Linder, J. R., & Walsh, D. A. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 5-22.
  12. Greeno, J. G. (1994). Gibson’s affordances. Psychological Review, 101 (2), 336342.
  13. Guzzetti, B., & Gamboa, M. (2005). Online journaling: the informal writings of two adolescent girls. Research in the Teaching of English, 40, 168-206.
  14. Jonassen, D.H. (2006). Modeling with Technology: Mindtools for Conceptual Change. Upper Saddle river, nJ: Merill/Prentice hall.
  15. Jonassen, D. H. (2000). Computers as Mindtools for Schools. Upper Saddle river, nJ: Merrill/Prentice hall.
  16. Kafai, Y. B. (1996). Electronic play worlds: Gender differences in children’s construction of video games. In Y. Kafai & M. Resnick (eds.), Constructivism in Practice: Designing, Thinking, and Learning in a Digital World, (pp. 97-123). Mahwah, nJ: erlbaum.
  17. Kinzer, C., & Risko, V. (1998). Multimedia and enhanced learning: transforming pre-service education. In D. Reinking, M. McKenna, L. Labbo, and R. Kieffer (eds.), Handbook of technology and literacy: Transformations in a post-typographic world (pp. 185–202). Hillsdale, nJ: erlbaum.
  18. Kirriemuir, J. & McFarlane, A. (2003). Use of computer and video games in the classroom. November, 2003 Level Up Conference Proceedings, retrieved oct 6, 2007, from http://digra.org:8080/Plone/dl/db/05150.28025.pdf
  19. Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. NY: cambridge university Press.
  20. Lenhart, A., & Madden, M. (2005). Teen content creators and consumers. Washington D.C.: Pew Internet and american Life Project.
  21. Malouf, D. B. (1987). The effect of instructional computer games on continuing student motivation. The Journal of Special Education, 21 (4), 27-38.
  22. Millar, A., & Navarick, D. J. (1984). Self-control and choice in humans: effects of video game playing as a positive reinforcer. Learning and Motivation, 15, 203-218.
  23. O’brien, D. A., Lawless, K. A., & Schrader, P. G. (2010). A taxonomy of educational games: Genres and applications. In Y. K. Baek (ed.), Gaming for Classroom-Based Learning: Digital Role Playing as a Motivator of Study (pp. 1-23). Hershey, Pa: Information Science reference.
  24. Papert, S. (2002). The turtle’s long slow trip: Macro-educational perspectives on microworlds. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 27 (1&2), 7-27.
  25. Reiser, R. A. (2001). A history of instructional design and technology: Part I: a history of instructional media. Educational Technology Research and Development, 49 (1), 53-64.
  26. Rice, J. W. (2007). New media resistance: barriers to implementation of computer video games in the classroom. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 16 (3), 249-261.
  27. Salguero, R. A., & Moran, R. M. (2002). Measuring problem video game playing in adolescents. Addiction, 97, 1601-1606.
  28. Schrader, P. G. (2008). Learning in technology: reconceptualizing immersive environments. AACE Journal, 16 (4), 457-475
  29. Schrader, P. G. & Lawless, K. A. (2010). The hidden Literacies of Massively Multiplayer online Games. In D. L. Pullen, C. Gitsaki, and M. Baguley (eds.), Technoliteracy, Discourse, and Social Practice: Frameworks and Applications in the Digital Age (pp. 200-219). Hershey, Pa: Information Science reference.
  30. Schrader, P. G., Lawless, K. A., & Johnson, P. R. (2010, May). Are there Serious obstacles to Serious Gaming? current trends in education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of aera, april 30th-May 4th, denver, co.
  31. Schrader, P. G., Lawless, K. A., & Mccreery, M. (2009, January). Online research Methodologies: Forum discourse, Literacy Practices, and Intellectual exchange. Proceedings of the HICE, January 4th-7th, honolulu, hI.
  32. Schrader, P. G., Lawless, K. A., & Mccreery, M. (2009). Intertextuality in massively multiplayer online games. In R. E. Ferdig (ed.), Handbook of Research on Effective Electronic Gaming in Education, Vol III (pp. 791-807). Hershey, Pa: Information Science reference.
  33. Schrader, P. G., Lawless, K. A., & Deniz, H. (2010). Videogames in education: opportunities for learning beyond the rhetoric and hype. In P. Zemliansky and D. Wilcox (eds.), Design and Implementation of Educational Games: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives (pp. 293-314). Hershey, Pa: Information Science reference.
  34. Schrader, P. G. & Mccreery, M. (2007). The acquisition of skill and expertise in massively multiplayer online games. Educational Technology Research
  35. Selfe, C. L., & Hawisher, G. E. (2004). Literate lives in the information age: Narratives on literacy from the United States. Mahwah, nJ: erlbaum.
  36. Shaker, P., & Heilman, E. E. (2004). The new common sense of education: advocacy research vs. Academic authority. Teachers College Record, 106 (7), 1444-1470.
  37. Sherry, J. (2001). The effects of violent video games on aggression: a metaanalysis. Human Communication Research, 27 (3), 409-431.
  38. Smythe, S., & Neufeld, P. (2010, March). “Podcast time”: negotiating digital literacies and communities of learning in a middle years ell classroom. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53 (6), 488–496.
  39. Solomon, G., Perkins, D. N., & Globerson, T. (1991). Partners in cognition: extending human intelligence with intelligent technologies. Educational Researcher, p 2-9.
  40. Squire, K. D. (2003). Video games in education. International Journal of Intelligent Simulations and Gaming, 2 (1). Retrieved January 11, 2007, from http://cms.mit.edu/games/education/pubs/IJIS.doc.
  41. Squire, K.D. (2006). From content to context: Videogames as designed experiences. Educational researcher, 35 (8), 19-29.
  42. Steinkuehler, C. A. (2005). The new third place: Massively multiplayer online gaming in american youth culture. Tidskrift Journal of Research in Teacher Education, 3, 17-32.
  43. Steinkuehler, C. A. (2006a). Why Game (culture) Studies now? Games and Culture, 1 (1), 97-102.
  44. Steinkuehler, C. A. (2006b). Massively multiplayer online videogaming as participation in a discourse. Mind, Culture, and Activity. 13(1), 38-52.
  45. Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand oaks, ca: Sage Publications.
  46. Subrahmanyam, K., & Greenfield, P. M. (1994). Effect of video game practice on spatial skills in girls and boys. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 15, 13-32.
  47. Thomas, M. K. (2006). Sex, violence, learning, and video games. Symbiosis, Nov-Jan., 37-39.
  48. U.S. Department of education (2006). No Child Left Behind. Retrieved october 15, 2010, from http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml
  49. U.S. Department of education (2010). Race to the Top Fund. Retrieved october 15, 2010, from http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html
  50. Wilson, M. (2002). Six views of embodied cognition. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 9 (4), 625-636.
  51. Young, M. (2004). An ecological description of video games in education. Proceedings of the International Conference on Education and Information Systems Technologies and Applications (EISTA), orlando, FL, July 23. Retrieved February 10, 2006, from http://web.uconn.edu/myoung/eISta04Proceed.pdf.
  52. Young, M. F., Schrader, P. G., & Zheng, D. P. (2006). MMoGs as learning environments: an ecological journey into Quest atlantis and the Sims online.

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.

Suggest Corrections to References

Cited By

View References & Citations Map

These links are based on references which have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake, please contact info@learntechlib.org.

Pages You've Visited

Abstracts