An Ipsos MORI survey investigating students' attitudes to mainstream computer games has revealed that three in five 11-16 year-olds would like to use computer games to learn in school. The research, which surveyed over 2,300 11-16 year-old students in England and Wales, explores students' opinion and use of games and the findings could help to determine how computer games may be integrated into the school curriculum.
The study found that younger children were more likely to play games than their older counterparts, with 46% of 11 year-olds playing games every day compared with 25% of 15-16 year-olds. Younger students were also most likely to want to use computer games in school: 66% of 11 year-olds compared to 49% of 15-16 year-olds.
The survey, which was commissioned as part of Teaching with Games, also found that, of those who did not want to use games at school, 38% would rather play them at home - implying that they see education and computer games as separate activities. Teaching with Games is a one-year research project led by education innovator Futurelab with support from three of the world's leading interactive entertainment software companies; Electronic Arts, Microsoft and Take Two, as well as the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE).
Nearly 90% of those who said they would like to use games at school agreed that it would make lessons more interesting. The perceived benefits of playing computer games were generally positive, regardless of whether or not students were in favour of their use in the classroom. More than two-thirds of respondents thought that games would improve their computer skills and just under half thought that they would help to improve strategic thinking skills such as problem solving. Students also agreed with teachers (who were previously surveyed for Teaching with Games in November of last year) in thinking that games can have negative effects such as reinforcing stereotypical views of people.
Holly Adams, a student from John Cabot City Technology College in Bristol who took part in Teaching with Games, sums up her experience of using games in the classroom: "People were keen to learn using games because it was a different way to do lessons which everyone found fun and interesting."
Mike Rumble, Curriculum Adviser at the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA) agrees: "Young people play computer games not because they are easy or mindless, but precisely because they are the opposite of that - they are hard." He continues: "The outcome of this research will inform further development of learning technologies and the issues that teachers may need to consider when using games software in school."
Teaching with Games aims to explore the practical issues surrounding the use of interactive computer games in schools. A project report, which will include findings, case studies and observations on the use of games in the classroom, is due out in the autumn. For further information on Teaching with Games, go to www.futurelab.org.uk/research/teachingwithgames.htm.