Computers and games have been influencing the way we learn for quite some time now largely due to military foresight, primarily the US military’s funding, and it appears to be paying dividends in some respects. Militaries around the world are making use of simulators and investing in their development due to their low cost compared to purchasing real equipment which is typically in the billions, repair costs to equipment, and there simply not being enough real equipment to practice on. If you have ever encountered a simulation program, essentially a video game with a focus on learning, then you have surely been surprised by the amount that can be learned in a short time even given some of their steep learning curves. Even commercially available flight simulators offer a wealth of knowledge that novice pilots or air traffic controllers can use to hone their skills. In addition to learning and practicing skills, simulators oddly enough have also been used as a recruitment tool. The remainder of this paper will maintain that simulators / video games are a beneficial learning tool in some cases as evidenced by military examples.
America’s Army, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Operation Flashpoint are all commercially popular simulators of choice available because they offer realistic environments, objectives, and great difficulty. Perhaps the most renown of them is America’s Army since asides from being a teaching tool it has doubled as a recruitment tool. While the ethical question of freely circulating the US military approved game as a free download to anyone who desires a free copy will not be discussed, it should be noted that the software has attracted many new faces to the military. Where America’s Army shines is in its execution of objectives. This simulator can be painstakingly difficult for those unwilling to do things the prescribed way. For those who choose to follow orders, virtual awards and medallions are a point of pride to some. The difficulty and attention to detail in this program are what make it especially useful for teaching visual learners by doing what they see. Being able to see military strategy in action is a valuable tool for those struggling to grasp some tactics such as suppression, flanking, and others. Other than strategy, basic skills can also be improved after some time with a simulator. Whether from a lack of coordination or fear of handling a weapon, simulators have consistently shown that practicing on them for some time and then advancing to live rounds can yield positive results with more targets being hit.
When an airplane flies overhead we rarely think of how much training and communication is involved in getting it from point A to B. When dealing with the lives of tens or hundreds of people on one airplane it is critical that the pilot and air traffic controller work harmoniously together and understand fully what the other is saying. Being able to understand and practice the IFR and VFR systems is crucial and with the use of simulators the learning process is as beneficial as learning on-site but with zero risk. The same can be said for military pilots which train exhaustively on simulators as they cost only a fraction of what a real jet would. Being that all things are scarce, even military equipment for countries like the US, it makes sense having plenty of pilots being able to get their time in with a simulator and then moving on to the real thing when it is available. In the long run having pilots on simulators will result in them being better trained and more likely to accomplish their mission.
Apart from the on-ground and in-air aspects of the military, commanding one is also an important skill that can be improved by spending time with a simulator. While it is obvious to some that the skills of pilots and soldiers can be improved with a simulator, it is often misunderstood how games like the Command and Conquer series reflect the real world. The proper name of the strategy is Command and Control and much like the game, the program revolves around the issuing of orders through a satellite system to soldiers. In the simulator many of the same protocol are adhered to and it is a useful tool when dealing with a mission that is complex or unstable. Having a superior communications system can help remove the fog of war, resulting in a more informed fighting force. This equates to either knowing where the enemy is, or fighting in the dark. Having a commander spend time on a simulator and better understanding how military units move and react will result in greater success.
I believe that these examples show that learning can be possible through simulators and video games, but their usefulness in the traditional classroom is questionable at best. This sort of learning is best suited for tasks which do not require a paper and pen. While it may sound like a fun and attractive way to bribe struggling kids to put more effort towards their studies, a sort of Shakespeare RPG or Gears of War auto mechanic game would probably not be able to meet the needs of young students.
What do you guys think? Is it possible for any genre or game to be a learning opportunity for an individual? What are some games you think do a good job?
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i think so because some of them are educational, games for the wii get people up off their butts, and depending on the game the info it tells you might apply in real life. example: i have a pinball game so now i know useless pinball facts that might come up if im on millionaire or some other game show
I work for Canada’s Department of National Defense, where we develop content for existing ‘serious games’ like VBSII and work on our own simulators (Capability Development). Since introducing these things, the student pass rate has risen to 100% as they are now able to run through their drills weeks before actually hitting the fields. This also saves a great deal of money (think of the fuel required to run LAVs and Leopards, maintenance, and even food), and frees up more equipment.
OK, you actually did raise some good points dude!
RT
http://www.anonymous.ua.tc
Good morning kids, excellent
yes the problem with “realistic” FPS games is that story wise they rarely are. I could barely tolerate COD4′s storyline since it is among a TON of other games, a blatant propaganda against the middle east which is understandable since FPS games that are not made in someone’s garage (and have stuff like bump mapping anti-aliasing etc) are made by American companies.
Oh and btw…shooting with a G3A3 IRL – TOTALLY different experience than doing so virtually trust me. There is no retry btw. It gets you YOU DIE.
Actually, my school opened up a driving simulator in the library. If you made the cut (I didn’t) you could sign in times before and after classes and drive through the virtual city in a realistic car. Of course, its no Gran Turismo, when you crash the screen just goes black.
Still pretty bad ass, 3 screens next to each other, steering wheel, and 2 pedals. Pretty hardcore. I wonder if its effective. The whole thing is just a test ATM. Yay! We’re test rats! If it works the company is going to ship them out to a ton of schools in an effort to promote safe driving.
I think you’re confusing what FPS games are; games. They are not supposed to play realistically because that would ruin the fun. The story works the same way and functions just like a novel or movie (and how is it blatant propaganda against the middle east when the main opponents in the game are Soviet Ultranationalists? Is it just because part of a game called ‘Modern Warfare’ takes place in a middle eastern setting where there’s currently modern warfare going on in the real world? Would you rather they base the game in Darfur so you can play as part of the NATO forces not engaged in any operations there? Or perhaps they could give it a Korean or Chinese or South American location… it doesn’t matter where the developers are located or where they base the story, someone is going to think it’s propaghanda against the opposing force).
You might want to look into the ‘virtual’ experience more too. It’s not just mouse and keyboard. Even the version of America’s Army that the soldiers use is not the same entertainment version that everyone else plays, they go so far as to use real guns to shoot at their screens in order to get the accurate experience. Its a far, far richer experience than the traditional paper-target method of shoothouses, and even then at the end of the day its more about teaching the tactics and the situational awareness, so the army still gets their regular boots-on-the-ground training and time at range.
I think you need to only take a moment to see THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baOcaQBpZG0
That should answer your question.
Simulators have been used in mandatory pilot training for over six decades. With the advancement in computing power, simulation and training applications are now compelling in more complex areas like simracing and first-person ambulatory sims (games).
An article on the State of Simulation in Motorsport: http://www.simcraft.com/education/6
I think games can we very educational, I learnt many a tale though games like age of empires. And with more game developers basing games on real physics and facts it’s suprising how much is true, even if some is adapted for the game.
The two things that must be considered are whether the game is “too educational” and boring (which means it fails in its objective of making the education process more attractive for the students), or if the game is “not educational enough” and is merely mindless entertainment. We discussed this in an article on our site: http://thoseonboard.com/2009/07/25/yes-but-what-have-video-games-done-for-you/
games can help us learn call of duty world at war helped me learn about war world 2 and the piont-of-veiw of a person in WW2
games can help us learn call of duty world at war helped me learn about war world 2 and the piont-of-veiw of a person in WW2 but now my mom says i cant watch it on youtube that means she is taking the avantige of letting me learn i cant buy the game cause of 2 things 1:my mom might say no 2:i dont have the money but when i get it ill let you guys know