Teachers Using Games in the Classroom - GameStar Mechanic

Most students play games either on their cell phone, personal computer, or in a school setting.  As educators have become more keenly aware of this, they have started integrating the concept of game playing as a way of engaging students.  Games don’t simply teach strategy.  Game creation allows students to think analytically and test theories.  Through the act of playing, students are designing and creating solutions to problems, testing their ideas, and sharing them with others to get feedback about the work they produced.  All of these skills are critical to a 21^st century student and necessary to possesses in order to compete in a global marketplace.  In addition, game design promotes student engagement across all subjects through a medium that is easily accessible.  If a school has computers and Internet access, websites like Gamestar and Scratch provide free, basic game design tools to get students started in the process.   There are a lot of cross-curricular opportunities in game development as teachers can focus on various components that make up the gaming process from story telling, to programming, to the aesthetic qualities.  The game platform provides a way for ELA teachers to discuss character development, parts of a story, genre, setting, etc. all the while encouraging students to create these scenarios on their own.  Teachers use games in the classroom as a way for students to problem solve, develop ideas, test their ideas, and collaborate with others.