seminar
Can Games Change Education?
An increasing number of scholars have argued the importance of rethinking the traditional way of schooling that was established over 100 years ago. It is believed that we are dealing with completely different kind of students who have been referred as gamer generation and net generation. At the same time, schools are expected to prepare these students for a different kind of world, an ever changing knowledge-based society where jobs might not even exist when they are at school.
Digital games are becoming an important part of our daily lives. It’s not only young people who play digital games these days. According to the entertainment software association, the average age of the gamer is 30 while 47% of all players are women. Playing digital game is also becoming part of family’s routine and bonding activity, 40% of parents play games with their children at least weekly while 59% of them play with their children at least monthly.
Digital game-based learning has often been suggested as one of the solutions for the educators to re-engage the new generation. Digital games deliver educational contents in an effective and enjoyable way that young people are familiar with (Prensky, 2000; Katz, 2000). Research have shown a well designed game has incorporated some of the most effective learning principles, such as just in time learning, situated learning, critical learning and more. Games have also bee praised for enhancing players’ 21st century skills, from communication to critical thinking skill.
The speaker will explain how games can change education and share his experience in working with various schools and organization on game-based learning projects.
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<p>Frankie Tam, chairman of Hong Kong Digital Game-Based Learning Association and director of FifthWisdom Technology Limited. Frankie has a master degree from Cornell University in computer science specializing in artificial intelligence and a bachelor degree in computer science from UCLA. He has also recently earned another master degree from the University of Hong Kong in Information Technology in Education. He has a lot of experience in game development. He was working for Activision and THQ before he moves back to Hong Kong in 2003.</p>
<p>Frankie has been advocating the use of digital games in the classroom since moving to Hong Kong. He has been working with a number of schools and organizations to design and develop strategies for implementing digital game-based learning. He believes that digital games play a very important role in revitalizing our education system especially when games are becoming an important part of the everyday life of our students and teachers. He has been sharing his experience and findings in local and overseas conferences. He has also conducted a number of guest lectures on this topic in the local universities.</p>