Get the RSS feed | Jim McDermott Archives

Multiplayer Educational Gaming Tournaments Hold Great Promise for Teaching and Learning
by Jim McDermott

One of the most interesting developments in the multiplayer educational gaming world is the creation of virtual tournaments.  Schools around the country are participating in Tabula Digita's 2nd annual Multiplayer Educational Gaming Tournament right now.  The qualifying rounds are finished and students across the country are gearing up for the semifinals.  Schools choose their five best players and then challenge the math mastery of other schools playing DimensionM virtually -- from the comfort and safety from their schools.  Winners get trophies and the honor of being national champs at the beginning of what I think will be a growing and lasting practice.  Finally an opportunity to see the same excitement that sporting events drum up over content that is rarely celebrated (when was the last time you heard kids cheering each other on to solve algebraic equations?)

Championship Gaming is evolving into an international passion with television networks broadcasts delivering play by play analysis of game plays.  For the release of one popular game, they filled a stadium in South Korea as they revealed a redesigned game and storyline to a crowd electrified with excitement.  In Asia it's not at all uncommon to pack movie theatres with enthusiasts there to watch their video game heroes compete live!  I predict we'll be in theatres soon watching very sophisticated games played by expert video game players.  I hope some of those events will be multiplayer educational gaming events that include all subject areas and grade levels so that we can hold competitive gaming events that teach and reinforce learning!

In the midst of all this edge of your seat video gaming tournament action, I have to share an exciting development from the field.  Our classroom teachers are raving over a game that has spread through our school system quicker than a rumor in a teacher's lounge (is that possible?!): the game is Big Brainz Timez Attack.  Timez Attack is a single player math video game that teaches multiplication mastery.  This game has generated so much interest among educators and students alike because of its beautiful 3D immersive environment and its fun, easy, and rewarding gameplay.  Try the free downloadable version -- it's enough to convince you that as the website says, students will be clawing to play this game and educators .  Check out http://www.bigbrainz.com for your free trial. 

Jim McDermott has served the New York City Department of Education as a music teacher and an instructional technology specialist. He has presented at state, regional, and national education technology conferences on topics such as project based learning, immersive gaming, online learning communities, and technology based curriculum development. As an avid blogger, Mr. McDermott's "Tales of a Technology Omnivore" can be found at http://techomnivore.wordpress.com. His current interests revolve around online learning, web 2.0 tools in the classroom, and his long time passion: feature rich mobile devices.

Post new comment