Top 25 Games For Learning While You Play
College@home [http://www.collegeathome.com] has created a list of games that can help generate an interest in learning in kids, covering a range of topics including history, science and community skills.
Games are "a great way to get children engaged in learning while still allowing them to have fun in their classes," according to the article, which says that not every game listed is appropriate for in-class use, but all have the potential to spark an interest in discovering more about its subject.
Civilization III, for instance, is at the top of the list as one of the most instructional non-educational games available, with information about various forms of governments, geography and history of past civilizations, famous leaders and more. Age of Empires III [http://www.ageofempires3.com/] gets similar credit for introducing students to the development of the modern world and teaching them to strategize the development and expansion of their society.
Return of the Incredible Machine Contraptions [http://www.atari.com/rollercoastertycoon/] is "a great learning tool" because it involves the application of various principles of physics in complex problem solving and technical design.
Even MMOGs are represented the list, with Dark Age of Camelot [http://www.darkageofcamelot.com/]described as giving students the opportunity to "see how mythology fits into the history of the British Isles, learn how legends evolve and grow over time, and get a sense of the warfare that took place during turbulent times in England." Younger students are warned away from the game, however, due to its violent content.
Other popular games that made the list include Quake III: Arena [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Dance_Revolution] (what to do if you're sucked through an extra-dimensional portal and forced to engage in eternal combat for the amusement of an unseen and all-powerful entity).
The full list of "25 Best Sims and Games For The Classroom" is available here [http://www.collegeathome.com/blog/2008/06/03/virtual-learning-25-best-sims-and-games-for-the-classroom/].
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College@home [http://www.collegeathome.com] has created a list of games that can help generate an interest in learning in kids, covering a range of topics including history, science and community skills.
Games are "a great way to get children engaged in learning while still allowing them to have fun in their classes," according to the article, which says that not every game listed is appropriate for in-class use, but all have the potential to spark an interest in discovering more about its subject.
Civilization III, for instance, is at the top of the list as one of the most instructional non-educational games available, with information about various forms of governments, geography and history of past civilizations, famous leaders and more. Age of Empires III [http://www.ageofempires3.com/] gets similar credit for introducing students to the development of the modern world and teaching them to strategize the development and expansion of their society.
Return of the Incredible Machine Contraptions [http://www.atari.com/rollercoastertycoon/] is "a great learning tool" because it involves the application of various principles of physics in complex problem solving and technical design.
Even MMOGs are represented the list, with Dark Age of Camelot [http://www.darkageofcamelot.com/]described as giving students the opportunity to "see how mythology fits into the history of the British Isles, learn how legends evolve and grow over time, and get a sense of the warfare that took place during turbulent times in England." Younger students are warned away from the game, however, due to its violent content.
Other popular games that made the list include Quake III: Arena [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Dance_Revolution] (what to do if you're sucked through an extra-dimensional portal and forced to engage in eternal combat for the amusement of an unseen and all-powerful entity).
The full list of "25 Best Sims and Games For The Classroom" is available here [http://www.collegeathome.com/blog/2008/06/03/virtual-learning-25-best-sims-and-games-for-the-classroom/].
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