Papers, pencils, protractors and calculators were the implements for teaching physics a few years ago. But now video games are making their way into the classroom. A popular puzzle game, Portal, is available for free as a new initiative to teach children physics in a new and entertaining manner. This game teaches problem solving as well as concepts in physics, such as the preservation of motion, but in a format that people would pay to use in their free time. Schools are adapting and utilizing new technology in teaching, yet this is almost trickery: teachers disguising learning in an entertaining format! Kids aren't going to hate school anymore; they may actually learn to like it. Learning won't be for the sake of getting a good job, but for its own merit. What could be next, people actually liking their jobs?
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Hey, games worked for my education!
ReplyDeleteOkay, in all seriousness, I'm not sure Portal is the best example of a game for school. At least, not the type that helps with tests. Yes, it helps build an intuitive grasp for physics, and yes it requires puzzle-solving skills, but those won't show up very well on tests. Now then, those skills are probably useful in real life, but not so much in school. Which arguably means it's more valuable than a lot of things you usually do in school.
It could help on tests if they were to change the tests to say... playing video games. :)
ReplyDeleteAlmonihah, what you say makes sense, that it is hard to test an intuitive grasp of how physics works. However, by having this intuitive sense for the workings of physics the students should be able to more easily understand the mathematical equations and concepts that are tested.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that I haven't used most of the things I was taught in school. This should not be the case. The things we lean in school should be practical and applicable, and maybe their incorporation of portal is the start of schools actually teaching practical things.
Games like Portal might become part of a school's curriculum, but I don't think a very big part. Getting an intuitive grasp of physics and learning to problem solve are certainly valuable and are part of what schools try to teach, but they are also trying to teach the principles and formulas that will give children the foundation they need for a college education.
ReplyDeleteThe problems I see are that conversation of gravitational potential energy is not conserved in the slightest, and also that wind resistance is remarkably high in portal, leading to nonsensically slow terminal velocities. Gravity itself might be lower as well. Unless it's been modified, the portal engine could lead to some totally untenable "gut" impressions on how physics should work.
ReplyDeleteFor a similar story, check out http://www.doombuilder.com/. Remember the old 1992 game "Doom"? I cheered when I learned a classroom in China was using doom-builder, a free third-party level editor by Pascal "Codeimp" Heiden, to teach geometry, aesthetics, and basic computer skills. I myself have used this program, and love it.
They should make a virtual game that help teach kids in what to do in emergency like an earthquake.
ReplyDeleteThat is a pretty cool idea! Did you hear about the team of scientists who recently couldn't figure out a protein folding problem? They coded it into a game platform online and a team of gamers solved the puzzle in a matter of days. Pretty amazing how your brain functions differently when you don't think of a task as work.
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