April 7, 2007 -
Aliens are out to destroy the Earth and only you can stop them.It's a familiar video game plot. But in this case you must complete seven chemistry-based challenges in order to blow up their reactor and save the world. Sound like fun?
Good because that’s your homework.
Carlos Morales and Gabriela Weaver are Purdue University professors who have teamed up to develop a more engaging way to teach science. The result is a video game called Critical Mass.
Morales, an associate professor of computer graphics technology, who also has experience as an Xbox developer, believes that kids retain information better when they can apply what they learn. Video games allow them to do just that. Said Morales:
Listening to lectures and taking tests is not authentic to the real world and the way we learn concepts.
Weaver, an associate professor of chemistry adds her views on games as teaching tools:
I was somewhat familiar with video games, and what I had noticed with those I know who play them is their addictive quality, especially among young people. I was taken aback by how involved game players become in the game microworlds, how that world inside the game works, how players learn to navigate in that world and continuously strive to improve their performance.
Weaver insists the game is not meant to replace traditional teaching methods:
Our goal was to understand the aspects of video games that make them both engaging and self-learning environments. We would like to see if we can use those characteristics of commercial video games to create a game that has the same level of engagement and interest for students but includes chemistry concepts as some of the story line.
The game, which offers three playable character classes, is primarily funded by a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. It is currently being tested and evaluated using Purdue students.
Learn how to synthesize ammonia in this clip from the game.
Via: Reuters, Chemical and Engineering News
-Reporting from San Diego, GP Correspondent Andrew Eisen
Comments
replay
BLACKBOARD takes you through the high-roads and perils of the past and present experience of a Black American.BLACKBOARD is designed not to intimidate, but to make education "fun!"
Re: Purdue Profs Brew Up Chemistry Game
The structure of objects we commonly use and the properties of the matter we commonly interact with, are a consequence of the properties of chemical substances and their interactions.
About time someone got that.
As it is, in an increasing number of situations, they're using virtual simulations to determine the outcome of real tests, particularly as far as physics goes.
So, being able to turn something like that, into a game where the player has to come up with the result through trial and error, could allow for a good educational tool.
...
Hah, yeah that sounds pretty typical of the anti-game media.
Seriously though, this is a step in the right direction. I think games could eventually be used as a replacement for traditional teaching, but not until a full, thorough, tested curriculum has been worked out. In the meantime, these kinds of games are probably the best kind of supplemental teaching aid that you can get. What kid wouldn't want to play games for homework? :)
I can see the headlines now,
"Video games teach our kids how to make bombs!"
Funny, funny stuff.
I'm gonna be rich.
I'm also going to be on the hit list of thousands of out of work instrument tutors.
Actually, I'm thinking puzzle game, or something along the lines of The Island of Dr. Brain when I hear about this game.