You Can Still Learn Something From Nintendo

This course, EDT-211, is structured around the concept of “gamified learning”. Despite my personal issues with procrastination, I love concept of earning points to advance levels being applied to grading. However, I don’t think the incorporation of video games should stop there. The term “Edutainment” is about as antiquated as it is silly at this point, but some of the best video games from my youth were intended to be educational. I spent hours poring over a desk encyclopedia in the hopes of tracking down Carmen Sandiego, days following clues to find Mario, and far too many hours praying I survived dysentery in an attempt to make my way down the Oregon Trail.

The games I am referring to are from the 80s and 90s, but a game’s ability to spark the curiosity of its player hasn’t stopped. For example, games like Fallout, Call of Duty, and Bioshock, while highly fictionalized, are teeming with historical references. I spent several hours recently exploring Fallout 3’s “Capitol Wasteland” looking for The Declaration of Independence for an old museum curator who wanted to preserve the history of the United States despite the end of the world. It took me hours of searching through archives and vaults. I read dozens pages of historical information, and at once point took a quiz on the founding fathers using a rusty old computer terminal to unlock a door. And, roughly 20 years after graduating high school, I learned who Button Gwinnett was for the first time. He was one of the congressmen who signed the Declaration, in case you were wondering.

I’m not suggesting that we should design lesson plans around Call of Duty. However, the video games kids play are filled with references to academic subjects. Discussing the games yours students play and steering the conversation toward these topics is an excellent way to engage them in learning. You’re getting them to discuss the topics you want using the framework of something they already like.