Driving Question: Games are fun, but is there more to them?
When it comes to gaming, there’s always the mystery questions that pop up to their usefulness. In society today, games are time consuming with children to even adults spending long amounts of time on different games (E.g. Fortnite) however the driving question reveals a important point: are there more to games?
When reflecting on this question, i can heavily relate to the genre of gaming as i myself play games of different genres however what really got me interested in this topic from Week 3 was the introduction of game based learning. This topic i can 100% say i particularly enjoyed than most weeks as i was told how game based learning can be more effective for students as an extra tool for improving academic skills. Academic Articles reveal so much about Game based learning such as with Piaget, it is revealed that Play is integral to and evolving with, children’s stages of Cognitive development (Plass et al. 2015)
I can agree with the fact game based learning can prove dividends for Teachers and their teaching strategies however i don’t agree on teachers banking on the benefits of GBL (Game based learning) to enhance their careers however the engagement/motivation these games can bring to struggling students can be instrumental to their academic future.
To Conclude this reflection, Games can be heavily tarnished for their addictive like features that children fall for however game based learning reveals the “more to them” part of the driving question. For me, games can be implemented for Education in impressive ways and considering the recent pitch me and my group produced, this just supports the advantages games can bring.
Games are created to instill fun to people’s lives, to take their minds or even improve their minds. Cognitive development is even enhanced with the use of games as Piaget/Vygotsky reveal. This topic of games was very intriguing to reflect on and if i continue on the teacher path, this will almost certainly improve my teaching strategies.
References:
Plass, J., Homer, B,. & Kinzer, C. (2015) Foundations of Game-Based Learning, Educational Psychologist, 50:4, 258-283 DOI: 10.1080/00461520.2015.1122533
Blogs on 4 driving questions and intro 
Dear Benjamin,
I appreciate your great consideration of the question. You have included an engaging topic sentence, grasping the audience’s attention. Additionally, wording has been well used.
However, you could capitalise the “i” throughout, for improved spelling.
There are great arguments and relevant links to the psychological theories whilst gaming, although, you could expand by utilising a relevant source such as Cherry, K. (2019). The Role of a Schema in Psychology p. 1, Very Well Mind, (Unknown Publication Location), Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-schema-2795873 Through this source, you could include information relating to how games activate schemas, linking to the Piagetian theory.
Have you considered including another academic source? I suggest: Acer. (2017). The Benefits of gaming in education: the Build A World Case, Success Stories, (Unknown Publication Location), Retrieved from: https://eu-acerforeducation.acer.com/success-stories/the-benefits-of-gaming-in-education-the-build-a-world-case/
Also, it is advisable to italicise article headings.
Overall, you produced a post of high quality with excellent sources, supportive of your thorough knowledge.
Kind Regards,
Caroline Potross
References:
Acer. (2017). The Benefits of gaming in education: the Build A World Case, Success Stories, (Unknown Publication Location), Retrieved from: https://eu-acerforeducation.acer.com/success-stories/the-benefits-of-gaming-in-education-the-build-a-world-case/
Cherry, K. (2019). The Role of a Schema in Psychology p. 1, Very Well Mind, (Unknown Publication Location), Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-schema-2795873
P.S. (I did not have the ability to italicise the article headings in the comments here regarding references, however, “The Benefits of gaming in education: the Build A World Case” should only be italicised and “The Role of a Schema in Psychology” should be italicised also)
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