Games in Secondary School

Games in Secondary School

      Speaking of games, people tend to refer them to just computer games. However, it's a big mistake that the "good-for-nothing" computer game is the only form of games, some games for educational use which incorporate some higher-order thinking skills can be beneficial to our students as long as we can use games properly.

      In order to play the game, students must learn to collaborate with their game partners, demonstrate problem-solving abilities and think up creative ways to complete a task. Students have to engage actively in the game in terms of understanding and obeying the rules and communicating with their peers. Games provide environments in which students might experience the simulated problems which are designed to develop certain level of higher-order thinking skills. It's just like the real life for them and it can prepare them for the future lives.

      Most games nowadays are for younger elementary kids, but there are games for secondary schools which are really valuable and helpful. Secondary students might concern more about the significance and outcome of the games than younger kids do. Students of this age group are more conscious of their role in the game and they might be more motivated if they are informed of the value of the games toward their ability development. Thus games for secondary school students are generally more sophisticated than those for elementary kids.

      In order to keep the teacher and parents in control of the situation, parents and teachers need to set out the expectations of the students so that students know exactly what they are supposed to accomplish. Parents and teacheres should also organize the links and suggest the content that the students should pay attention to or ignore.

      One thing that Doug Adams mentioned in his presentation is that frustration can contribute to the effectiveness of the games. Students get frustrated by some unfamiliar situations or problems and they in turn develop through various ways problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills.

      Despite the evident advantages of educational games, we still doubt that if it would be more efficient to teach students the higher-order thinking skills and problem-solving abilities through class activities in which students interact face-to-face in real situations. I do concerns about that question as well, but I think educational games is just a complimentary educational activity aside from in-class teaching and it is crucial that students need to be under teachers’ or parents’ supervision in order to keep the educational goals for using those games among students.