Lord Puttnam
You wait forever for a report clearly stating that games are good for children, having educational value in schools - then two come along at once!
We told you earlier in the week about the Teaching In Games survey, a forward-thinking initiative commissioned by Electronic Arts (yes, EA can be forward-thinking!) in which it was concluded that using games in lessons is motivating and engaging, improves students’ computer skills, strategic thinking and problem-solving.
Not to be outdone, ELSPA has just sent over details of a similar report that the industry body has been beavering away on, entitled 'Unlimited Learning: The role of computer and video games in the learning landscape'. The snappily named report is pegged as "a resource for teachers and educationalists, games developers and publishers".
Lord Puttnam said of the ELSPA initiative: "Increasingly video games are being recognised as a powerful tool for learning. Yes of course they are entertaining and a lot of fun, but they’ve also the ability to inspire and motivate. They hold out the tantalising prospect of personalised, responsive and thoroughly enjoyable learning experiences, irrespective of age, or our ability. They can promote ideas, they can stimulate conversation, challenge thinking and, critically for the future of our highly skills-dependent economy, they can encourage problem solving.
"Now what we are talking about here is computer games not just as games, but as a whole new learning form or platform of learning and one that has quite literally, unlimited learning potential. Just imagine the opportunities created as a result of bringing all that potential into the classroom."
Puttnam knows more than most Lords about the vital importance of bringing together popular, commercial entertainment and serious educational initiatives, as he has been dealing with and thinking about such issues throughout his professional life as a hugely successful film producer.
"Games are created to be entertaining, engaging and stimulating" added Michael Rawlinson, MD of ELSPA . "They can be educational in the right context, whether for young people developing creative writing in a classroom or hospital staff learning how best to deal with MRSA, and if educationalists believe they can engage people in learning in a positive and constructive way, then we think this can only be positive."
We told you earlier in the week about the Teaching In Games survey, a forward-thinking initiative commissioned by Electronic Arts (yes, EA can be forward-thinking!) in which it was concluded that using games in lessons is motivating and engaging, improves students’ computer skills, strategic thinking and problem-solving.
Not to be outdone, ELSPA has just sent over details of a similar report that the industry body has been beavering away on, entitled 'Unlimited Learning: The role of computer and video games in the learning landscape'. The snappily named report is pegged as "a resource for teachers and educationalists, games developers and publishers".
Lord Puttnam said of the ELSPA initiative: "Increasingly video games are being recognised as a powerful tool for learning. Yes of course they are entertaining and a lot of fun, but they’ve also the ability to inspire and motivate. They hold out the tantalising prospect of personalised, responsive and thoroughly enjoyable learning experiences, irrespective of age, or our ability. They can promote ideas, they can stimulate conversation, challenge thinking and, critically for the future of our highly skills-dependent economy, they can encourage problem solving.
"Now what we are talking about here is computer games not just as games, but as a whole new learning form or platform of learning and one that has quite literally, unlimited learning potential. Just imagine the opportunities created as a result of bringing all that potential into the classroom."
Puttnam knows more than most Lords about the vital importance of bringing together popular, commercial entertainment and serious educational initiatives, as he has been dealing with and thinking about such issues throughout his professional life as a hugely successful film producer.
"Games are created to be entertaining, engaging and stimulating" added Michael Rawlinson, MD of ELSPA . "They can be educational in the right context, whether for young people developing creative writing in a classroom or hospital staff learning how best to deal with MRSA, and if educationalists believe they can engage people in learning in a positive and constructive way, then we think this can only be positive."
Companies:
ELSPA
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