article about video games vs educational games
pam sorooshian
<http://www.papert.org/articles/Doeseasydoit.html>
Here is an excerpt:
<Many who want to control children (for example, the less imaginative
members of the teaching profession or parents obsessed with kids'
grades) become green with envy when they see the energy children pour
into computer games. So they say to themselves, "The kids like to play
games, we want them to learn multiplication tables, so everyone will be
happy if we make games that teach multiplication." The result is shown
in a rash of ads that go like this: "Our Software Is So Much Fun That
The Kids Don't Even Know That They Are Learning" or "Our Games Make
Math Easy."
The language of these ads betrays the way in which this software throws
away what is best about the contribution of game designers to the
learning environment and replaces it with what is worst about the
contribution of school curriculum designers. What is best about the
best games is that they draw kids into some very hard learning.>
Great article.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
Here is an excerpt:
<Many who want to control children (for example, the less imaginative
members of the teaching profession or parents obsessed with kids'
grades) become green with envy when they see the energy children pour
into computer games. So they say to themselves, "The kids like to play
games, we want them to learn multiplication tables, so everyone will be
happy if we make games that teach multiplication." The result is shown
in a rash of ads that go like this: "Our Software Is So Much Fun That
The Kids Don't Even Know That They Are Learning" or "Our Games Make
Math Easy."
The language of these ads betrays the way in which this software throws
away what is best about the contribution of game designers to the
learning environment and replaces it with what is worst about the
contribution of school curriculum designers. What is best about the
best games is that they draw kids into some very hard learning.>
Great article.
-pam
National Home Education Network
<www.NHEN.org>
Serving the entire homeschooling community since 1999
through information, networking and public relations.
24hrmom
<http://www.papert.org/articles/Doeseasydoit.html>
Thanks for passing this article along, it was a really great read!
I have seen so much of what he discusses in my son (he's 12). The challenge
of figuring out a new game is definitely his current joy. We went to a
different Blockbuster a couple days ago and now there's a whole new set of
games for him to try (seems the one closest to us doesn't have as much
selection). He's excited to try out three new games, one a week, over the
next three weeks. And he's trying to balance that with maintaining his
FF-XI character level growth along with the friends he's found online. :-)
I remember a couple years ago he ran into another person at a party who was
just as into video games as himself and they spent the evening chatting
about them. He told me one of the things they talked about how much they
learn from playing video games.
And as mentioned in the article he's now moved into developing his own
games. When he was younger it was mostly storylines and drawing characters
and bosses but now he's using RPG Maker to create his own games. He also is
now more interested in the industry itself, watching X-Play to get a feel
for the whole genre, not just the games he likes playing (RPGs), and surfing
message boards and fan sites online.
It is really amazing to watch his interest unfold and all the great learning
that happens along the way.
Pam L - Woohoo! I'm finally receiving all my email (though not quite in
chronological order yet!)
www.livingjoyfully.ca
Thanks for passing this article along, it was a really great read!
I have seen so much of what he discusses in my son (he's 12). The challenge
of figuring out a new game is definitely his current joy. We went to a
different Blockbuster a couple days ago and now there's a whole new set of
games for him to try (seems the one closest to us doesn't have as much
selection). He's excited to try out three new games, one a week, over the
next three weeks. And he's trying to balance that with maintaining his
FF-XI character level growth along with the friends he's found online. :-)
I remember a couple years ago he ran into another person at a party who was
just as into video games as himself and they spent the evening chatting
about them. He told me one of the things they talked about how much they
learn from playing video games.
And as mentioned in the article he's now moved into developing his own
games. When he was younger it was mostly storylines and drawing characters
and bosses but now he's using RPG Maker to create his own games. He also is
now more interested in the industry itself, watching X-Play to get a feel
for the whole genre, not just the games he likes playing (RPGs), and surfing
message boards and fan sites online.
It is really amazing to watch his interest unfold and all the great learning
that happens along the way.
Pam L - Woohoo! I'm finally receiving all my email (though not quite in
chronological order yet!)
www.livingjoyfully.ca
Ann and Eric Yates
Hi Pam,
My sons love to play computer games. We do things on the pc, we don't have a game boy or any of those other things.
Can you tell me more about creating games? How would we begin to do this?
I think the boys would like to move in this directions, though I'm not sure where to start.
What is RPG maker?
My boys are 11 and 9.
Thanks for any help.
Ann
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
My sons love to play computer games. We do things on the pc, we don't have a game boy or any of those other things.
Can you tell me more about creating games? How would we begin to do this?
I think the boys would like to move in this directions, though I'm not sure where to start.
What is RPG maker?
My boys are 11 and 9.
Thanks for any help.
Ann
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/13/2004 11:43:12 AM Eastern Standard Time,
24hrmom@... writes:
now he's using RPG Maker to create his own games.
This sounds like something my son would be interested in. Where can I find
out more. I tried google but didn't really find anything helpful, mostly game
reviews and downloadable games?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Cheryl
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
24hrmom@... writes:
now he's using RPG Maker to create his own games.
This sounds like something my son would be interested in. Where can I find
out more. I tried google but didn't really find anything helpful, mostly game
reviews and downloadable games?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks
Cheryl
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/13/04 6:14:30 PM, Luckiebyrd@... writes:
<< now he's using RPG Maker to create his own games.
This sounds like something my son would be interested in. Where can I find
out more. I tried google but didn't really find anything helpful, mostly
game
reviews and downloadable games?
It's for Playstation, and the newer one for Playstation II.
Marty bought a playstation keyboard so he could do it even better. Some
things need to be named and that's painstaking work if you have to do it letter by
letter by clicking on the right letter.
Sandra
<< now he's using RPG Maker to create his own games.
This sounds like something my son would be interested in. Where can I find
out more. I tried google but didn't really find anything helpful, mostly
game
reviews and downloadable games?
>>When you don't know about a game, game reviews are the things to read!
It's for Playstation, and the newer one for Playstation II.
Marty bought a playstation keyboard so he could do it even better. Some
things need to be named and that's painstaking work if you have to do it letter by
letter by clicking on the right letter.
Sandra
Tina
There is a program called Dark BASIC that is for the PC. It's
available FREE to homeschoolers via the Internet. RPG Maker is for
PlayStation Units.
We have both. Adrian hasn't done too much with them, yet. We still
need to get the keyboard for his PS2, they're about $20 and make
using the RPG Maker much easier. We do know other kids that have
them and enjoy them very much.
Hope this helps...
Tina
--- In [email protected], "Ann and Eric Yates"
<hooperck@a...> wrote:
available FREE to homeschoolers via the Internet. RPG Maker is for
PlayStation Units.
We have both. Adrian hasn't done too much with them, yet. We still
need to get the keyboard for his PS2, they're about $20 and make
using the RPG Maker much easier. We do know other kids that have
them and enjoy them very much.
Hope this helps...
Tina
--- In [email protected], "Ann and Eric Yates"
<hooperck@a...> wrote:
> Hi Pam,don't have a game boy or any of those other things.
> My sons love to play computer games. We do things on the pc, we
> Can you tell me more about creating games? How would we begin todo this?
> I think the boys would like to move in this directions, though I'mnot sure where to start.
> What is RPG maker?
>
> My boys are 11 and 9.
>
> Thanks for any help.
> Ann
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
24hrmom
<< Cheryl wrote: This sounds like something my son would be interested in.
Where can I find out more. >>
The "game" is called RPG Maker II and as Sandra mentioned it's for the
Playstation 2 console. I highly recommend the PS2 keyboard and the
accompanying game guide to help him get off to a good start. It's
challenging enough without the frustration of really slow letter by letter
data entry using a controller. But for Joseph it's been well worth the
steep learning curve. He really enjoys it! It's given him a great outlet
for all those stories and adventures he's been developing in his head. <g>
<< Ann wrote: My sons love to play computer games. We do things on the pc,
we don't have a game boy or any of those other things. Can you tell me more
about creating games? >>
For games on the computer Visual Basic (VB) is probably a good place to
start. A quick search will bring up lots of sites. Here's one I just
found: http://www.vbexplorer.com/VBExplorer/game_tutorials.asp
If they don't want to get too deep into coding there is also downloadable
game development software you can find searching the internet such as
http://www.gamemaker.nl/index.html.
Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
Where can I find out more. >>
The "game" is called RPG Maker II and as Sandra mentioned it's for the
Playstation 2 console. I highly recommend the PS2 keyboard and the
accompanying game guide to help him get off to a good start. It's
challenging enough without the frustration of really slow letter by letter
data entry using a controller. But for Joseph it's been well worth the
steep learning curve. He really enjoys it! It's given him a great outlet
for all those stories and adventures he's been developing in his head. <g>
<< Ann wrote: My sons love to play computer games. We do things on the pc,
we don't have a game boy or any of those other things. Can you tell me more
about creating games? >>
For games on the computer Visual Basic (VB) is probably a good place to
start. A quick search will bring up lots of sites. Here's one I just
found: http://www.vbexplorer.com/VBExplorer/game_tutorials.asp
If they don't want to get too deep into coding there is also downloadable
game development software you can find searching the internet such as
http://www.gamemaker.nl/index.html.
Pam L
www.livingjoyfully.ca
Dawn Adams
Tina writes:
There is a program called Dark BASIC that is for the PC. It's
available FREE to homeschoolers via the Internet. RPG Maker is for
PlayStation Units.
Dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
There is a program called Dark BASIC that is for the PC. It's
available FREE to homeschoolers via the Internet. RPG Maker is for
PlayStation Units.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I found the website for this but only saw a download as a trial version, the full version was for sale. Do you have a diff. site?
Dawn (in NS)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tina
Dawn
I have included the link below. If you go about half way down on the
home page of the site it says "FREE 4 SCHOOLS." I enquired, and they
gave it to me free as a home school. We were given the authority to
share 10 copies. It's just a download, and is very simple to install.
Let me know how you fare...
Tina
--- In [email protected], "Dawn Adams"
<Wishbone@s...> wrote:
I have included the link below. If you go about half way down on the
home page of the site it says "FREE 4 SCHOOLS." I enquired, and they
gave it to me free as a home school. We were given the authority to
share 10 copies. It's just a download, and is very simple to install.
Let me know how you fare...
Tina
--- In [email protected], "Dawn Adams"
<Wishbone@s...> wrote:
>for
>
> Tina writes:
>
> There is a program called Dark BASIC that is for the PC. It's
> available FREE to homeschoolers via the Internet. RPG Maker is
> PlayStation Units.version, the full version was for sale. Do you have a diff. site?
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> I found the website for this but only saw a download as a trial
>
> Dawn (in NS)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
I found a link to a free version for schools. There is a form you fill out
and at the end they want a copy of you school letterhead. I'm trying to figure
out how to do this. Should I create a school letterhead for my family school
or would that be deceptive?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
and at the end they want a copy of you school letterhead. I'm trying to figure
out how to do this. Should I create a school letterhead for my family school
or would that be deceptive?
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Tina
No, it's not deceptive. Just because you don't need to use one,
doesn't mean you are not a legal home school. BUT, the way that I
did it was contact them via email and tell them that I am a
homeschool. This way they already knew, and they were looking for my
information when it came in. I umbrellad (sp?) our home school under
the local home school group and shared the 10 "copies" with those
that were interested. It was really easy. If you'd like to see the
letterhead that I created for us, email me off list and I'd be glad
to forward it to you. I do believe I have it saved...
Tina
doesn't mean you are not a legal home school. BUT, the way that I
did it was contact them via email and tell them that I am a
homeschool. This way they already knew, and they were looking for my
information when it came in. I umbrellad (sp?) our home school under
the local home school group and shared the 10 "copies" with those
that were interested. It was really easy. If you'd like to see the
letterhead that I created for us, email me off list and I'd be glad
to forward it to you. I do believe I have it saved...
Tina
--- In [email protected], Luckiebyrd@a... wrote:
> I found a link to a free version for schools. There is a form you
fill out
> and at the end they want a copy of you school letterhead. I'm
trying to figure
> out how to do this. Should I create a school letterhead for my
family school
> or would that be deceptive?
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 5/15/04 12:16:48 AM, Luckiebyrd@... writes:
<< Should I create a school letterhead for my family school
or would that be deceptive? >>
I would just send a note saying "We homeschool and all our business is
conducted by e-mail and we have no letterhead."
Sandra
<< Should I create a school letterhead for my family school
or would that be deceptive? >>
I would just send a note saying "We homeschool and all our business is
conducted by e-mail and we have no letterhead."
Sandra