Educational game
Encyclopedia
Educational games are game
s that have been designed to teach people about a certain subject, expand concepts, reinforce development, understand an historical event or culture, or assist them in learning a skill as they play. They include board
, card
, and video games.
is a game played with counters or pieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved across a "board" (a premarked surface, usually specific to that game). Frequent subject matters for educational board games are geographical, and the board is a map of the region taught about.
is any game using playing cards, either traditional or game-specific. Generally these dula expand concepts, such as the food chain, set matching, etc. Flash card games are used to teach math, animal, and dinosaur species. Some card games improve memory.
, as these games have a strong purpose other than pure entertainment
. Some people call these types of games edutainment
because they combine education
and entertainment
. An educational computer game can be defined as an electronic medium with all the characteristics of a gaming environment that have intended educational outcomes targeted at specific groups of learners.
Video games can aid the development of proficiency by allowing users to interact with objects and manipulate variables. They are said to be particularly effective when designed to address a specific problem or teach a certain skill in curriculum subjects, where specific objectives can be stated and when deployed selectively within a context relevant to the learning activity and goal.
Simple types of games can be designed to address specific learning outcomes such as recall of factual content. For instance, the Nobel Prize Foundation website uses on-line games to aid children in understanding the discoveries made by its laureates by embedding the scientific knowledge as part of the game environment.
To aid in educating students and adults about the finer details of different political systems, numerous companies have developed simulations that immerse the player into different political systems by forcing them to make realistic political decisions. These games vary from running an actual election campaign to games that allow the player to make the day-to-day decisions of running a country, as seen in Democracy. These types of games are targeted at students, educators and adults alike.
than other forms of recreational learning because they are often perceived as being mindless entertainment and as encouraging sexism
and consumerism
, and turning players into social recluses. Many children today also find these "educational" games to lack much interesting content to them, as they are considered by older children to be "for preschoolers". However, a shift from pure entertainment to educational tool has emerged in recent times. Children growing up today can benefit from educational video games because they are already exposed to a society that is increasingly dependent on digital technology.
Researchers today have found that computer games could become part of the school curriculum after researchers found they had significant educational value. "The UK study concluded that simulation and adventure games - such as Sim City and RollerCoaster Tycoon
, where players create societies or build theme parks, developed children's strategic thinking and planning skills". Recent games such as the math game Ko's Journey
are standards-based to meet curriculum.
The medium of educational games provides an opportunity for teachers to introduce educational and playful elements into the learning environment. With computer-aided learning programs, teachers may assist students on social aspects such as critical learning, knowledge based communication and effective interpersonal skills that traditional methods of teaching cannot offer.
As computer games are being adapted to the education system, the issue of lassification and content regulation is being brought to attention. The issue of regulating game content is vital as educational game are created to be effective learning tools. Thus the game developer must have a comprehensive understanding of its young audience and their particular social and educational needs. At the same time, the game developer must balance between entertainment and accordance with the education syllabus.
Below are some examples of games targeting young users from the ages of about three years to mid-teens; beyond the mid-teens, subjects become so complex (e.g. calculus
) that teaching via a game can be impractical. Numerous subgenres exist, each for a different field, such as maths
games or typing
games.
Adult education games are aimed at higher levels of education being targeted at young-adults and up. Like children's games, they can be in the form of mini-games, adventure games, role-playing games and so on.
There can be also defined strategy war games that include historical references like the Total War franchise or the Age of Empires trilogy and an in-game encyclopaedia like Civilization. These games often combine entertainment and education but without being explicitly educational.
Children's and adolescents' games
Adult educational computer games
(VLEs), such as Moodle
and Blackboard, can act as a front-end user interface for educational tests. Games based on such tests can be single or multi-player games. Such generic user interfaces are called skins
. These skins are popular with schools, an example of a school using Moodle
is Coundon Court School and Community College, they can be ideal as a learning environment for pupils using IT
.
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
s that have been designed to teach people about a certain subject, expand concepts, reinforce development, understand an historical event or culture, or assist them in learning a skill as they play. They include board
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
, card
Card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
, and video games.
Board games
A board gameBoard game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
is a game played with counters or pieces that are placed on, removed from, or moved across a "board" (a premarked surface, usually specific to that game). Frequent subject matters for educational board games are geographical, and the board is a map of the region taught about.
Card games
An educational card gameCard game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
is any game using playing cards, either traditional or game-specific. Generally these dula expand concepts, such as the food chain, set matching, etc. Flash card games are used to teach math, animal, and dinosaur species. Some card games improve memory.
Video games
Educational video games are considered a type of serious gameSerious game
A serious game is a game designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment. The "serious" adjective is generally prepended to refer to products used by industries like defense, education, scientific exploration, health care, emergency management, city planning, engineering, religion,...
, as these games have a strong purpose other than pure entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
. Some people call these types of games edutainment
Edutainment
Edutainment is a form of entertainment designed to educate as well as to amuse.-Overview:...
because they combine education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
. An educational computer game can be defined as an electronic medium with all the characteristics of a gaming environment that have intended educational outcomes targeted at specific groups of learners.
Video games can aid the development of proficiency by allowing users to interact with objects and manipulate variables. They are said to be particularly effective when designed to address a specific problem or teach a certain skill in curriculum subjects, where specific objectives can be stated and when deployed selectively within a context relevant to the learning activity and goal.
Simple types of games can be designed to address specific learning outcomes such as recall of factual content. For instance, the Nobel Prize Foundation website uses on-line games to aid children in understanding the discoveries made by its laureates by embedding the scientific knowledge as part of the game environment.
To aid in educating students and adults about the finer details of different political systems, numerous companies have developed simulations that immerse the player into different political systems by forcing them to make realistic political decisions. These games vary from running an actual election campaign to games that allow the player to make the day-to-day decisions of running a country, as seen in Democracy. These types of games are targeted at students, educators and adults alike.
Children's and adults educational computer games
Video games have historically received more criticismVideo game controversy
Violent video game debates often center on topics such as video game graphic violence, sex and sexism, violent and gory scenes, partial or full nudity, portrayal of criminal behavior, racism, and other provocative and objectionable material. Video games have been studied for links to addiction and...
than other forms of recreational learning because they are often perceived as being mindless entertainment and as encouraging sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
and consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, and turning players into social recluses. Many children today also find these "educational" games to lack much interesting content to them, as they are considered by older children to be "for preschoolers". However, a shift from pure entertainment to educational tool has emerged in recent times. Children growing up today can benefit from educational video games because they are already exposed to a society that is increasingly dependent on digital technology.
Researchers today have found that computer games could become part of the school curriculum after researchers found they had significant educational value. "The UK study concluded that simulation and adventure games - such as Sim City and RollerCoaster Tycoon
RollerCoaster Tycoon
RollerCoaster Tycoon may refer to:*RollerCoaster Tycoon - a series of video games in which a player must manage an amusement park**RollerCoaster Tycoon - the first game, which came out in 1999...
, where players create societies or build theme parks, developed children's strategic thinking and planning skills". Recent games such as the math game Ko's Journey
Ko's Journey
Ko's Journey is a certain type of educational math game designed to teach middle school math curriculum through a story-based method. Following an approach similar to predecessor games such as the The Oregon Trail, Ko uses a story method. Ko, a young girl whose village has been attacked, must find...
are standards-based to meet curriculum.
The medium of educational games provides an opportunity for teachers to introduce educational and playful elements into the learning environment. With computer-aided learning programs, teachers may assist students on social aspects such as critical learning, knowledge based communication and effective interpersonal skills that traditional methods of teaching cannot offer.
As computer games are being adapted to the education system, the issue of lassification and content regulation is being brought to attention. The issue of regulating game content is vital as educational game are created to be effective learning tools. Thus the game developer must have a comprehensive understanding of its young audience and their particular social and educational needs. At the same time, the game developer must balance between entertainment and accordance with the education syllabus.
Below are some examples of games targeting young users from the ages of about three years to mid-teens; beyond the mid-teens, subjects become so complex (e.g. calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
) that teaching via a game can be impractical. Numerous subgenres exist, each for a different field, such as maths
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
games or typing
Typing
Typing is the process of inputting text into a device, such as a typewriter, cell phone, computer, or a calculator, by pressing keys on a keyboard. It can be distinguished from other means of input, such as the use of pointing devices like the computer mouse, and text input via speech...
games.
Adult education games are aimed at higher levels of education being targeted at young-adults and up. Like children's games, they can be in the form of mini-games, adventure games, role-playing games and so on.
There can be also defined strategy war games that include historical references like the Total War franchise or the Age of Empires trilogy and an in-game encyclopaedia like Civilization. These games often combine entertainment and education but without being explicitly educational.
Children's and adolescents' games
- Big Brain Academy: Wii DegreeBig Brain Academy: Wii DegreeBig Brain Academy: Wii Degree, known in the PAL region as Big Brain Academy for Wii and in Japan as , is a video game released for the Wii. A sequel to the game Big Brain Academy for the Nintendo DS, it too measures a player's brain's weight, but with new games and puzzles to solve...
- ClickN READ PhonicsClickn kidsClickN KIDS Inc is an online education company based in Carson City, Nevada. ClickN KIDS develops and markets online educational software to homes and in schools internationally...
- Beginning Reading - ClickN SPELLClickn kidsClickN KIDS Inc is an online education company based in Carson City, Nevada. ClickN KIDS develops and markets online educational software to homes and in schools internationally...
- Beginning Spelling - Carmen SandiegoCarmen SandiegoCarmen Sandiego is a media franchise of educational computer and video games, television programs, books and other media featuring a thieving villain of the same name. The basic premise of the franchise lets the user or protagonists become agents of the ACME Detective Agency, who attempts to thwart...
series - The ClueFindersThe ClueFindersThe ClueFinders is a series of edutainment software aimed at children aged eight to twelve. The series is produced by The Learning Company as a counterpart to their Reader Rabbit series for older elementary-aged students....
- Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training (a series of two games)
- EcoQuestEcoQuestEcoQuest is a series of two educational adventure games developed by Sierra Entertainment. The original concept was developed by Sierra VP of Creative Development, Bill Davis...
(a series of two games) - GComprisGComprisGCompris is a suite of free educational software for children aged 2 to 10., and is currently part of the GNU project.It is available for GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and other systems...
(GPLGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
) - Genomics Digital LabGenomics Digital LabGenomics Digital Lab is a browser based series of educational games, simulations, and animations created by Spongelab Interactive. It is designed to teach high school students about biology including photosynthesis, respiration, transcription and translation...
- Gizmos & GadgetsGizmos & GadgetsSuper Solvers: Gizmos & Gadgets is an educational science computer game designed by The Learning Company. It is intended to teach children between the ages of 7 and 12 introductory mechanics, namely simple machines, magnets, basic electronics, and forms of energy...
- History of Biology game
- Immune AttackImmune AttackImmune Attack is an educational video game created by the Federation of American Scientists and Escape Hatch Entertainment. Early development of the game was done by Brown University, in collaboration with the University of Southern California, under a grant from the National Science Foundation...
- Inanimate AliceInanimate AliceInanimate Alice is an educational game relating to the experiences of Alice and her imaginary digital friend, Brad, created on her Ba-Xi. The game series is created by Kate Pullinger and digital artist, Chris Joseph. There have been 4 consecutive episodes created to date, until further releases of...
- InLivingInLivingInLiving is an educational game focusing on independent living. Aimed at young people aged 13–25, the game has been developed by Creative North Studios and Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing for use by housing organisations as a tool to deliver key information to prospective and current tenants...
- I.M. MeenI.M. MeenI.M. Meen is an educational video game that runs on MS-DOS, designed to teach grammar to children. In it, players must walk around a labyrinth, rescuing children and defeating monsters. The educational aspect of the game comes in the form of "scrolls", writings of I.M. Meen which the player must...
- JumpStartJumpStartJumpStart is an educational media franchise for children, consisting mostly of educational games, produced by Knowledge Adventure. The series is distributed as Jump Ahead in the United Kingdom...
- Ko's JourneyKo's JourneyKo's Journey is a certain type of educational math game designed to teach middle school math curriculum through a story-based method. Following an approach similar to predecessor games such as the The Oregon Trail, Ko uses a story method. Ko, a young girl whose village has been attacked, must find...
- LearnalotLearnalotLearnalot Ltd is a British limited company developing and maintaining game based learning technologies. Learnalot hosts and develops the which specialises in mathematics for 11–16 year olds. Formed in Burscough in Lancashire in 2009, the company launched its educational portal at the annual BETT...
- Math Blaster
- Number MunchersNumber MunchersNumber Munchers is an educational/edutainment computer game in the Munchers series produced by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium for several operating systems. Designed to teach basic math skills, it was popular among American school children in the 1980s and 1990s and was the...
- Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail (computer game)The Oregon Trail is a computer game originally developed by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger in 1971 and produced by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium in 1974. The original game was designed to teach school children about the realities of 19th century pioneer life...
- PlaceSpottingPlaceSpottingPlaceSpotting is an online game, based on Google Maps. Its server is based in Switzerland and has English and German language versions. In international Media, PlaceSpotting is recommended as a challenging amusement and an educational way of wasting time on the internet.-Overview:The way...
- Quest AtlantisQuest AtlantisQuest Atlantis is a 3D multiuser, computer graphics learning environment that utilizes a narrative programming toolkit to immerse children, ages 9–15, in meaningful inquiry tasks . Quest Atlantis combines strategies used in the commercial gaming environment with lessons from educational research...
- Reader RabbitReader RabbitReader Rabbit is an edutainment software franchise created in 1986 by The Learning Company. This series currently makes up the greater part of a franchise of grade-based and subject-based titles, where the games for infancy through second grade feature Reader Rabbit...
- The Magic School BusThe Magic School BusThe Magic School Bus is a series of children's books about science written by author Joanna Cole. They feature the antics of Ms. Valerie Frizzle, an elementary school teacher, and her class, who board a magical school bus which takes them on field trips to impossible locations such as the solar...
series - Treasures of the DeepTreasures of the DeepTreasures of the Deep was a game released for the PlayStation on July 1, 1998. It was developed by Black Ops Entertainment, notable at the time for flight simulators Agile Warrior and Black Dawn, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe....
- Tuxmath (GPLGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
) - Storybook WeaverStorybook WeaverStorybook Weaver was a 1994 educational game released on floppy disk for the Apple Macintosh, aimed at children aged 6-12. An updated version, Storybook Weaver Deluxe, was released in 2004 on CD-ROM for Windows and Mac computers, featuring much more content than the original. Both versions were...
- Urban JungleUrban JungleUrban Jungle is an educational computer game published in Croatia by and . It is an educational traffic simulator aimed at kids in schools and all others that are about to drive a car. The game is free of violence and distributed as freeware . It is financed via the advergaming concept and with...
- Zoombinis
- WolfQuestWolfQuestWolfQuest is a 3D wildlife simulation video game by the Minnesota Zoo and game developer company Eduweb. The demo was released on October 31, 2007. On December 21, 2007 it was released as a free downloadable game for Macintosh and Windows computers. The official deluxe version was released on April...
Adult educational computer games
- Democracy
- Food ForceFood ForceFood Force is an Educational game published by the United Nations World Food Programme in 2005. Due to its content, it is considered a serious game . Players take on missions to distribute food in a famine-affected country and to help it to recover and become self-sufficient again...
- Global Conflict: PalestineGlobal Conflict: PalestineGlobal Conflicts: Palestine is a serious game. It was developed by Serious Games Interactive for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows.-Summary:The player assumes the role of a freelance journalist who has just arrived in Jerusalem facing challenges. The goal is to create and get an article published...
- Mavis Beacon Teaches TypingMavis Beacon Teaches TypingMavis Beacon Teaches Typing is an application software program for teaching touch typing. The typing program was initially released in late 1987 by The Software Toolworks and has been published regularly ever since. It was originally created by a team of developers from Software Toolworks...
- MiniconomyMiniconomyMiniconomy is an online, browser based, economic and trade simulation game developed in the Netherlands. The game has over 60,000 registered players from 121 different countries that can play the game in English, Spanish, Danish, and Dutch languages. As of December, 2010, 83 rounds have been...
- President Forever 2008 + PrimariesPresident Forever 2008 + PrimariesPresident Forever 2008 + Primaries is a political simulation game that incorporates realism mixed with fiction. It simulates United States presidential elections and primary elections in 1960, 1980, 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2008. President Forever 2008 was developed and released by TheorySpark, a...
- The Typing of the DeadThe Typing of the DeadThe Typing of the Dead is an arcade game , released in 1999 based on The House of the Dead 2...
- CyberCIEGECyberCIEGECyberCIEGE is a serious game designed to teach network security concepts. Its development was sponsored by the U.S. Navy, and it is used as a training tool by agencies of the U.S. government, universities and community colleges. The game is freely available to the U.S...
- Close Combat: MarinesClose Combat: MarinesClose Combat: Marines is the first version of Close Combat universe made specifically for military training purposes. Forces consist of USMC and OpFor troops. The game was first released in the September 2004, issue of the Marine Corps Gazette....
- VirtonomicsVirtonomicsVirtonomics is a browser-based multiplayer economic game. Virtonomics is a business simulation, simulating economics. It allows users to study the basics of management. The game is turn-based and the conversion of a game situation occurs once a day.-Gameplay:The game resembles the game Capitalism 2...
Generic Skins for Computer Based Games
Virtual Learning EnvironmentsVirtual learning environment
Defined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
(VLEs), such as Moodle
Moodle
Moodle is a free source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment...
and Blackboard, can act as a front-end user interface for educational tests. Games based on such tests can be single or multi-player games. Such generic user interfaces are called skins
Skin (computing)
In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
. These skins are popular with schools, an example of a school using Moodle
Moodle
Moodle is a free source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment...
is Coundon Court School and Community College, they can be ideal as a learning environment for pupils using IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
.