GAMES FIND HOME IN THE CLASSROOM

Video games could soon be transplanted from their natural habitat to the more academic atmosphere of the classroom. Recent research by the London Institute of Education concluded that games have a valid place in the classroom. ‘Games teach life skills such as decision-making and problem-solving,’ said Martin Owen at FutureLab, a non-profit organization looking at ways of using technology for innovative learning. Mr. Owen said games could also help children make quick assessments of situations and learn by trial and error.

Speed and physics

Most game firms are too busy turning a profit to consider developing games for use in schools, but Lateral Visions, a Liverpool-based game firm, saw a gap in the market. ‘Learning games were somewhat old-fashioned, and we didn’t see anyone else doing what we wanted to do,’ said Dr. Carl Gavin, the managing director of Lateral Visions. The company set out to write something that had all the look and feel of a commercial game but with educational and learning elements. The result is Racing Academy, a massively multiplayer car racing game, which requires not only a thirst for speed but also a working knowledge of physics and engineering as well. The game requires users to build and maintain their vehicles and to monitor and analyze performance using data from a variety of outputs, before and after racing. Teamwork is essential, and a chat area allows students to exchange information and data, work collaboratively, and review their own performances.

Lite (demo) games

The game has been tried in two secondary schools in Bristol, and feedback from students has been positive. ‘Pupils used the statistics to work out the best way to build their cars, and the online message board to share ideas and support each other,’ said Ben Williamson, a researcher at FutureLab charged with testing the game in real schools. ‘Games in the classroom need to support the teacher. It is not about giving children free rein to play games but rather about recognizing that games attract attention and offer a challenge,’ Dr. Gavin said.