1) Video games and online simulations can be effective tools for social studies education by providing structured patterns that stimulate the brain and encourage collaborative learning. 2) However, there are some myths around gaming, such as that all games are violent or isolate players, when in reality games have become more complex over time and can foster social connections. 3) Educators should consider how games can be adapted for the classroom while also being aware of challenges like debates around links between gaming and violence.

1. Having Fun is a Good Thing
Online Simulations and Video
Games in Social Studies
KCSS Conference
October 2008
Glenn Wiebe
glennw@essdack.org

2. 60 minutes!? Are you
kidding me?

3. Sticky idea?

4. Video games are an absolute
essential for your toolkit

5. The top 10 jobs
predicted for 2010
didn’t exist in
2004

6. There are over
150 million people
using Social Networks

7. China has more
gifted kids
than we have kids

8. A seven year-old signed a
six figure endorsement deal
to play professional video games
thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/06/did-you-know-20.html

9. So what?

12. “Today’s students
are no longer the
people our educational
system was designed
to teach.”
Marc Prensky

13. “If you wanted to
create an educational
environment that was
directly opposed to
what the brain is good at
doing . . .

14. “. . . you would
probably design
something like a
modern
classroom.”
John Medina
Brain Rules

15. Yeah . . . so?

16. Tic Tac Toe

17. Pong

18. Galaga

19. SimCity

20. Second Life

21. Games
haven’t
gotten simpler
over time

22. They’ve gotten more complex

23. Why?

24. Because the brain
demands it

25. Brains
search for
patterns

28. Brains work best when emotional
chemicals are increased

31. Brains want to
work with
others

32. Games provide structured patterns

33. Games create emotional connections

34. Games encourage collaborative learning

35. “. . . exceptionally tasty
patterns of reality.”

36. Everything Bad is Good for You
Steven Johnson
How Computer Games Help
Children Learn
David Williamson Shaffer
Don’t Bother Me, Mom --
I’m Learning!
Marc Prensky

37. So . . . whatcha
thinkin’?

38. www.stopdisastersgame.org

39. www.teamtreks.com

42. More goodies at:
historytech.wordpress.com
“Presentations”
- “Having Fun is a Good Thing”

43. What can you adapt?
What do you like?
What are some possible challenges?

44. “All child drug addicts . . . are
comic-book readers. This kind of thing is
not good mental nourishment for
children!”
Fredric Wertham, Seduction of the Innocent, 1954

45. Gaming myths?

46. www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

47. Scientific evidence links violence and video
games
www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

48. Scientific evidence links violence and video
games
It’s mostly kids / mostly boys
www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

49. Scientific evidence links violence and video
games
It’s mostly kids / mostly boys
Gaming creates isolated loners
www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

51. www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

52. “Mini” & complex games are the same
www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

53. “Mini” & complex games are the same
It’s really not that big of a deal
www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

54. secondlife.reuters.com

55. So what
questions should
a teacher ask?

56. Some other great examples

57. www.discoverbabylon.org

58. www.knowledgematters.com

59. What games do you use?

60. One new thing you learned?
One question that you need
answered?

61. quot;People do not quit playing
because they grow old; they
grow old because they quit
playing.quot;
Oliver Wendell Holmes

62. Tech integration questions?
Social studies issues? I would
love to hear from you!
Glenn Wiebe
glennw@essdack.org
socialstudiescentral.com
historytech.wordpress.com
View presentations at:
slideshare.net/glennw98