Flash Graphic: Grow and play with computer games Children don't have to wait until college to prepare for their careers. Thanks to computer games, they can learn today how to think like a professional. "Through computer games that simulate real-world issues and professions, children can learn to think like a scientist, a journalist or even an engineer and practice solving problems they could encounter in the real world," said David Shaffer, author of "How Computer Games Can Help Children Learn.
" "Right now, we teach children basic skills to prepare them for the standardized tests, but spend less time teaching them to solve challenging problems and to think in innovative ways," he said. Ysela Gonzalez, mother of Eric, 11, said her son has been playing computer games since he was 3. "They're never too young to start getting familiarized with computers," she said.
"There are always games appropriate for their age, like the putt-putt games where he had to count coins and talk to people to get to different places." Gonzalez believes some computer games can help children learn certain skills they can't learn from just books. "In general, some computer games can help them develop their cognitive skills, being able to plan ahead what their next action is going to be and even how to be more competitive by playing against other children online," she said.
Eric said he likes games in which he has to find out what happened, such as why a place was abandoned, and look for clues to get to the end of the game. "I like adventure games, like being a pirate that has to find clues; it can really help you if you want to be a detective when you grow up," he said. Keisha Stingel, 12, said she likes computer games because they help her learn how to follow directions.
"I like the games where you have to jump and run when the bad guy is following you." Ed Dieterle, a fifth-year doctoral student at Harvard University, and professor Christopher Dede have designed a project called "River City," an interactive computer simulation of a late 1800s river town besieged by health problems where middle-schoolers travel back in time to find out what's happening to its inhabitants. They work in small research teams using technology to keep track of clues, They test their hypotheses and, based on their results, make recommendations on what could be causing the residents to become ill.
"Games such as 'River City' are designed to teach children science in a multi-user environment, they learn to solve problems, finding the next step and all of this working together," said Timothy Holt, director of Instructional Technology at the El Paso Independent School District. "It helps them develop their 21st-century skills - critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and collaboration, among others," he said. But Holt emphasized that the games should not be used as only entertainment or as a baby sitter.
"Parents and teachers should have a real reason why they want the child to play that particular game and what particular skills they want the student to develop by playing that game," he said. "Make the game a supplement for learning, not a replacement." Perla Trevizo may be reached at ptrevizo@elpasotimes.
com; 546-6354. Tips and online resources for parents Parents should learn how to play the computer game well before they give it to the child so they can help the child play it better. Games are not baby sitters.
Parents and teachers should sit down with the child when he or she is playing and discuss what he or she is doing. They should also have a real reason as to why they want the child to play. Games can become addictive if done excessively.
Parents need to be aware of what the child is doing and implement a balance between computer games and other activities. When playing the game, think about it in a different way. Don't see it as just a game.
Find a meaningful way to think about what you or the child is doing. Before purchasing the game, check with the child's school or teacher to see what they want the students to do for that school year. Try to avoid buying a game just for the sake of playing.
Play the game yourself, and if you learn something from it and if it entertained you, then the child will learn something as well and be entertained by it. Make computer games a supplement to learning, not a replacement. prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to children.
They provide online games and activities at www.readingplanet.org and at www.
leadingtoreading.org. The El Paso Public Library also offers various activities for kids at the Kids Zone of www.
elpasolibrary.org. If you're interested in having your class or school participate in the "River City" project, an interactive computer simulation of a late 1800s river town where middle-schoolers learn about disease transmission and the scientific method, contact Ed Dieterle at dietered@gse.
harvard.edu. Sources: David Shaffer, author of "How Computer Games Can Help Children Learn" and Timothy Holt, director of Instructional Technology at the El Paso Independent School District.
Some examples of computer games that can also be educational for children: "Zoo Tycoon": The player must create enclosures and populate them with animals before opening the zoo to visitors. It is entirely up to the player to make as many enclosures as he or she wants. The player can also decide to keep a range of animals, and can keep more than one enclosure of the same animal.
As income is generated, the zoo can be expanded with further facilities and exhibits. By donating to research and conservation, the player will get more animals for purchase, more foliage, and more things to make the zoo better. The only way to lose a free-form game is to run out of money with no way to regain it.
A game will go on for as long as the player wants. The premise of the game is to complete a series of preset scenarios by successfully building and maintaining theme parks. The key to any park is building a large amount and diverse range of rides for the visitors.
Players can choose from dozens of roller-coaster types and can also build log flumes, carousels, bumper cars, haunted houses, go-karts, Ferris wheels and swinging ships, among other rides. "A Force More Powerful": Billed as "the game of nonviolent strategy," "A Force More Powerful" is an interactive teaching tool in the field of nonviolent conflict. The game is built on nonviolent strategies and tactics used successfully in conflicts around the world.
Featuring 10 scenarios inspired by history, the game simulates nonviolent struggles to win freedom and secure human rights against dictators, occupiers, colonizers and corrupt regimes, as well as campaigns for political and human rights for minorities and women. The game models real-world experience, allowing players to devise strategies, apply tactics and see the results. "Freddy Fish": It is an arcade action game in which the goal of the player is to become the biggest fish in the sea.
On each screen, the player needs to eat all of the fish to proceed to the next level. He or she will be able to eat only fish that are smaller than the player, but as fish are eaten he or she grows. There are two different screens on which the player needs to eat fish.
On the first, he or she is in the open sea and needs to dodge larger fish, a diver and fishing nets from the boat on the surface. On the second screen, he or she is in a narrow maze of fishing nets.
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