Why do you like playing games?
Wed/Oct/2007 02:55 PM | Articles
I've been teaching computer skills and multimedia
software since 2002. Students that I teach are
basically from ages 12 to 16 years.
One thing that I noticed about the students in the computer lab is that they all look forward to play computer games. After lessons or even during lesson they'll open up the web browser and go to their favorite game website to play games online.
Most of these games are made using Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash.
As a teacher, I find it quite irritating to see students distracted from the lessons when their attention is focused on the game rather than on the lessons!
However, after lessons when these students are allowed some free time to play, I find it fascinating to see how these young people are so engrossed in playing these games. With their big grin and fingers mashing the keyboard.
I asked them a simple question: "Why do you like playing games?"
Their answer was also a simple one: "Because it is FUN!"
That got me thinking. What is it that makes these games fun? I went around asking these students.
Their answers were varied. But mostly centered on these few things:
1) Visual attractiveness
2) Nice music
3) Challenging
After asking so many questions to so many different young people who play games, I came up with a simple drawing / concept map to help me make sense out of my fascination with people's interest in games.
More of that in the next post. To be continued!
One thing that I noticed about the students in the computer lab is that they all look forward to play computer games. After lessons or even during lesson they'll open up the web browser and go to their favorite game website to play games online.
Most of these games are made using Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash.
As a teacher, I find it quite irritating to see students distracted from the lessons when their attention is focused on the game rather than on the lessons!
However, after lessons when these students are allowed some free time to play, I find it fascinating to see how these young people are so engrossed in playing these games. With their big grin and fingers mashing the keyboard.
I asked them a simple question: "Why do you like playing games?"
Their answer was also a simple one: "Because it is FUN!"
That got me thinking. What is it that makes these games fun? I went around asking these students.
Their answers were varied. But mostly centered on these few things:
1) Visual attractiveness
2) Nice music
3) Challenging
After asking so many questions to so many different young people who play games, I came up with a simple drawing / concept map to help me make sense out of my fascination with people's interest in games.
More of that in the next post. To be continued!
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