"Gee has identified a number of principles that underlie modern game design that can teach us a lot about learning" (Jonassen pg. 54, 2008). I believe that three are very good principles. The practice principle lets the learners get lots of practice in a non boring way. It makes the learning not boring because it is virtual. The practice is related to the task at hand. I also like the discovery principle. This is letting the learner experiment and make discoveries on their own. In my opinion, it is similar to the practice principle but you get to learn on your own by making your own mistakes. I also like the active, critical learning principle. I love that it is a more active learning. I don't believe in passive learning, learning should be a hands on.
I believe simulations would be very hard to create in a math setting. I would have them use the urban simulation. Since mathematics was mostly originated in Europe, I would have them make do a simulation in Greece. All of the Greek scientists lived in very awesome architecture and discovered many formulas. They could use the language that was spoken and find developments in that. Simulations help people that are big in architecture and engineering and the Greek architecture would make this very interesting. In order to do these simulations, a student would have to be an upper level educated student, high school, college, etc. This would be a very interesting experiment.
I like the venturing into games. It makes learning much more fun and I know if I were a student and was given these products, I would love to be involved in this. When I was in elementary, it made me love math and also there was a program that made me want to learn to spell. Simulations are a great technology to keep the students involved. I think that learning is going to be a lot of fun in the future just because of the technologies that are vastly growing today.
Resources:
Jonassen, D., Howard, J., Marra, R., Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology (pp. 54). Upper Saddle, New Jersey: Pearson.
