Boys and Gaming
Findings: Mapping CCSS
Does learning really happen as a result of video games play? Absolutely! What learning surfaced through the interviews? Of the various learning accounts that we uncovered several mapped to the CCSS. In particular we found ties to the "English Language Arts” as well as the “Literacy in History, Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects" standards (“NGA & CCSSO”, 2012).
Results
Reading Anchors (Assassin's Creed)
As a result of their engagement players were able to speak about their experiences in the game. Such is the case with Brad. This aligns with multiple standards including:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.6 Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
(Among others)
Vocabulary Acquisition (Assassins Creed)
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Templars- (The Templars had a distinct uniform as they were among the most skilled fighting forces of the Crusades)
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Ottomon Empire- (One of the most powerful states in the world: a multinational, multilingual empire)
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Cardinals- “I learned about like the cardinals, like the popes cardinals, …They’re like the understudies of the pope and like the big, like the head priests things like that…” He goes on to talk about tariffs, “I learned about some stuff in Assassin’s Creed 3 you learn about tariffs, they’re like taxes, tariffs are taxes pretty much, I learned that…taxes on goods. ” (Brad)
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These map to -Literacy.RH.6-8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
Critical Reading (Skyrim)
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Respondent: Not read the prompts but in Skyrim actually you have to pick up books in which you actually might have to read the whole book which could be 6 to 7 pages long and that's how you can you can use that book to unlock a puzzle or a door or something or just know a secret entrance or treasure, something like that. Interviewer: what would happen if you didn't read the book? Respondent: You would probably never find that…you'd have to mistakenly find that…code out or that treasure or (chuckles) by looking it up online that's the only way. (Austin)
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This points us towards CCRA.R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Blake reflects on critical reading skills using context clues (# 272 @ 8:38-9:40) (Steinkuehler, 2011, 2013; Self Correction)
Listening and Speaking (Madden)
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“…when you have a certain team against Peyton Manning you want to run the ball more to keep him off the field." (Cody)
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Calculated Risk
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Demonstrates CCRA.SL.4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Summary
We have found evidence that learning does occur as a result of video game play. This first phase has provided suggestions that the motivation that video game environments allow for participants to freely engage in an optimal learning environment. These environments allow for reinforced learning to occur which evokes a certain level of transfer. Furthermore the learning that occurs shows ties to the CCSS. There are several areas of the CCSS that seem to map to learning that was discovered. According to the "English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects" standards.