Computer Games for Learning

Catalog description

Can people learn useful cognitive skills and academic content from playing educational video games? Many strong claims are made for the potential of computer games for improving education, but research is needed to examine these claims. This course takes an evidence-based approach to examining what the research has to say about how to design effective computer games for learning. It examines issues, such as do people learn better from games than from conventional media, what do people learn from playing commercial video games, can games be used to train cognitive skills needed for academic success, and which features of games are most effective in helping people learn academic content?