This presentation discusses the following topics: What is Instructional Games The use of instructional game Benefits and Relative Advantages of Instructional Games Components of instructional game Examples of instructional game Using Games in a Class Resources

1. INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
Instructional
GAMES
Dr. C.V. Suresh Babu’s

2. Discussion Topics
• What is Instructional Games
• The use of instructional game
• Benefits and Relative Advantages of Instructional Games
• Components of instructional game
• Examples of instructional game
• Using Games in a Class
• Resources

3. What is Instructional Games
• Instructional games is a technique of instruction which can be used in
the classroom to bridge the gap between entertainment, the world of
gaming, and the educational world.
• If used correctly, instructional games can deliver the same content as
the teacher, but in a more engaging way.
• Instructional games can combine educational skills with competition
and the receiving of points.
• When the students have motivation, ie points in the game, they are
more likely to try hard so they can beat their peers and move on to the
next level.

4. The use of instructional game
• Powerful educational tools.
• Strong motivating influence.
• Good for integrating learning across the subjects.
• Can contribute to the learning objectives related to competition,
cooperation, and teamwork.
• Make learning fun
• Provide different levels of complexity that match player’s ability.
• Engage the learner in a situation where the learner is competing for a
high score.

5. Benefits and Relative Advantages of Instructional Games
• Instructional games can add the competitive element to any
classroom.
• They get students engaged in the content and they can be
more interesting than teacher led instruction.
• Studies have shown that retention rates over time has
increased over traditional classroom instruction.
• The games focus student attention and have appealing formats
and activities for the students to engage in.

6. Limitations of Instructional Games
• As stated earlier, games can add the competitive element to the classroom.
• However, if students are not motivated by competition, this may cause those
students to be turned off from the activity and not drive them to do well.
• Another major limitation with using games is that the students may focus
more on the fun aspect of the activity and less on the actual learning.
• Games have a tendency to take away from the motivation of learning and
place the focus on winning the game without any stress on the material.

7. Components of instructional game
• General: Goals, rules, competition, challenge, fantasy, safety, entertainment.
• The introduction of the game: Goals, rules, players, equipment, directions,
constraints, penalties, choices.
• In the body of the game: Scenario, level of reality, cast, role of players, presence of
uncertainty and curiosity, nature of competition, relationship of learning to the
educational objectives, skills vs chance, wins and loses, choices, the information
flow, turns, types of action, modes of interaction.
• The conclusion of the game: Recognizing the winner, the reward, providing
information, the final message.

8. Advantages and Disadvantages of Tutorials
Advantages
• Capitalize on the competitiveness of students.
• High in entertainment value .
• Varied methods of learning.
• Unique formats.
Disadvantages
• Entertaining consequences for incorrect responses.
• Unwittingly incorrect answers can sometimes be more entertaining than correct
ones.
• Vision and sound effects often become the focal point.
• Indiscriminate use of computer capabilities can distract from the purpose

9. Examples of instructional game
• Adventure and Role-Playing games.
• Business games.
• board games.
• combat games.
• logic games and puzzles.
• word games.

10. Examples of Games
• In the simple machines game linked below, the students have
to help a character named Twitch collect different electronic
components by building and operating different simple
machines. To play the game, click on the picture below. It is
well worth checking out!
https://www.msichicago.org/fileadmin/Activities/Games/simple
_machines/

11. Examples of Games
• In the Pangaea Labeling Game linked below, the students have
to label the continents based on the name that comes up. If
the students correctly label all of the continents, they win a
NASA startup screen. While not as fun as the simple machines
game, this would be a good simple game to play and have
students time themselves. To play the game, click on the
picture.

12. Using Games in a Class
• Consider using single- or multi-player serious games (see gamesforchange.org) as a
warm-up for an in-class or online discussion.
• Have students play and critique a video game for content accuracy (Civilization
series).
• Design roller coasters and other amusement park rides to explore forces and motion
in physics (Roller Coaster Tycoon series).
• Have students build and run their own amusement parks (Roller Coaster Tycoon) or
cities (SimCity series).
• Explore global issues and learn to take on differing identities in conflicts (Games for
Change).
• Learn team-building and collaboration in multiplayer games.
• Have your students design a game. It doesn’t have to be a video game.

13. Resources
For more examples of Instructional Games, check out the
resources linked below.
• Mrs. Nettles Classroom- A resource for science teachers that includes links to
different games and tutorials.
• Journal of Instructional Research- A link to an article that discusses unexpected
learning opportunities using games in the classroom.
• Using Games in the Classroom- This link is to Texas Tech's Teaching, Learning, and
professional Development Center. The site provides some benefits and tips for
incorporating games into instruction.
• Edutopia- This site provides an article that discusses using the video game model in
the classroom.