use of computer games at school

[tricia]

have any of you guys used computer games at school?  i was reading some interesting papers on the use of computer and video games (not necessarily the explicitly educational ones--  but the off-the-shelf commercial games like Zoo Tycoon and Civilization.  does anyone here use anything like that at school?

i could see how having students plat something like that could lead to a springboard for further discussion.

[rhale722]

I think it's a good idea to keep the video games inside school at an educational nature. More than likely they are already playing non-education video games outside of school.  If you want to have a foundation for further discussion, read a modern book that maybe has the same idea. I know what you mean by bringing something in the classroom that is more appealing to the students and something where they don't always have to learn, but that's what school is for! If they are on the computer, it will already be a little more appealing than normal. At the school where I'm doing my student teaching, we do have educational video game time, and that usually goes over pretty well and helps strike some interesting discussions that get my kids minds rolling! What do you think?