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United States Military earliestUnited States Military earliestsuccessful adopterssuccessful adopters

The United States military has used everything from filmThe United States military has used everything from filmstrips to high end simulators to train it soldiers.strips to high end simulators to train it soldiers.The U.S. militarys effective use of educational technologyThe U.S. militarys effective use of educational technologyis credited by members of the Axis regime with tippingis credited by members of the Axis regime with tippingW.W. II in the Allies favor.W.W. II in the Allies favor.The U.S. was so successful with the technology at the timeThe U.S. was so successful with the technology at the time(filmstrips) that one German Chief of Staff stated : We(filmstrips) that one German Chief of Staff stated : Wehad everything calculated perfectly except the speed withhad everything calculated perfectly except the speed with

which America was able to train its people. Our major which America was able to train its people. Our major miscalculation was in underestimating their quick andmiscalculation was in underestimating their quick andcomplete mastery of film education." (Olsen & Bass, 1982,complete mastery of film education." (Olsen & Bass, 1982,p. 33)p. 33)

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Current Example of a simulator usedCurrent Example of a simulator usedfor trainingfor training

The simulator to the rightThe simulator to the rightcan accurately tell acan accurately tell amilitary instructor how longmilitary instructor how longit took the soldier toit took the soldier tosqueeze the trigger andsqueeze the trigger andwhat movements thewhat movements theweapon made after firingweapon made after firingThe aforementioned dataThe aforementioned datacan then be used by thecan then be used by themilitary instructor to offer military instructor to offer individualized instruction toindividualized instruction tothe soldier.the soldier.

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Why the apprehension to electronicWhy the apprehension to electronicsimulations in the classroom?simulations in the classroom?

CostCostTrainingTraining

Equitable AccessEquitable AccessHow does it help with increasing studentsHow does it help with increasing studentsscores on standardized tests?scores on standardized tests?

What will people say when they hear their What will people say when they hear their children are playing video games in achildren are playing video games in aclass?class?

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Kurt SquireKurt Squire

Squire is a professor at theSquire is a professor at theUniversity of Wisconsin-University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison

He is one of the foremostHe is one of the foremostexperts in the field of experts in the field of educational simulations.educational simulations.He specializes in the useHe specializes in the useof off the shelf videoof off the shelf videogame(s) as educationalgame(s) as educationaltools.tools.

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Squire ContinuedSquire Continued

Some of Dr. Squires workSome of Dr. Squires worksurrounds the Sid Meierssurrounds the Sid Meiershighly successful franchisehighly successful franchiseCivilization.Civilization.CivilizationCivilization is a game thatis a game thatplaces a player in chargeplaces a player in chargeof a civilization from 4000of a civilization from 4000B.C.E. to a 2100 A.D.B.C.E. to a 2100 A.D.A player can play any of A player can play any of the civilizations that arethe civilizations that areinset to the right.inset to the right.

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Squire continuedSquire continuedIt is his contention that games like Sid MeiersIt is his contention that games like Sid Meiers CivilizationCivilization can offer students a deeper understanding of topics andcan offer students a deeper understanding of topics andideas being taught in humanities classes.ideas being taught in humanities classes.

Squire states the following about usingSquire states the following about using Civilization III Civilization III ininclass: Playingclass: Playing Civilization III Civilization III seems to be a powerfulseems to be a powerfulway of introducing students to concepts such asway of introducing students to concepts such asmonotheism or monarchy, but it may be an even better monotheism or monarchy, but it may be an even better way of helping them tie together the disparate periods of way of helping them tie together the disparate periods of history. A challenge of teaching world history is how tohistory. A challenge of teaching world history is how to

present students with thousands of years of present students with thousands of years of developments across all civilizations without beingdevelopments across all civilizations without beingWestern-centric.Western-centric. Civilization IIIsCivilization IIIs scope extends wellscope extends wellbeyond the Greco-Roman realm and thus invites us tobeyond the Greco-Roman realm and thus invites us totake a global perspective on historical developments.take a global perspective on historical developments.(Squire, 2003, p.13) .(Squire, 2003, p.13) .

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The What if scenarioThe What if scenario

Games likeGames like CivilizationCivilization andand Making History Making History allowallowstudents to delve into the what if components of students to delve into the what if components of history.history.What if the Germans would of won W.W. II or theWhat if the Germans would of won W.W. II or theRoman Empire did not fail?Roman Empire did not fail?As educators we know that these types of As educators we know that these types of activities are when the students we are chargedactivities are when the students we are chargedwith teaching truly are thinking and learning.with teaching truly are thinking and learning.The computer component adds more realism andThe computer component adds more realism andcan improve the engagement levels of the manycan improve the engagement levels of the manydifferent learning styles found in our classes.different learning styles found in our classes.

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Another Positive By-ProductAnother Positive By-ProductAdditionally, in a game likeAdditionally, in a game like CivilizationCivilization or or SimCity SimCity players are exposed to new and differentplayers are exposed to new and differentvocabulary.vocabulary.

The game is setup in a manner that a player canThe game is setup in a manner that a player cannot complete tasks until they learn and understandnot complete tasks until they learn and understandthe meaning of the new terms.the meaning of the new terms.For example, in the gameFor example, in the game SimCity SimCity players will beplayers will be

exposed to terms such as zoning, industrial,exposed to terms such as zoning, industrial,residential, commercial, and taxation.residential, commercial, and taxation.If a player does not understand theIf a player does not understand theaforementioned terms then they will not beaforementioned terms then they will not besuccessful in building a thriving city.successful in building a thriving city.

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Brain Based BenefitsBrain Based Benefits

Dr. Michael Posner from the University of Dr. Michael Posner from the University of Oregon through his research found thatOregon through his research found thatvideo game play can positively impact thevideo game play can positively impact theneural pathways influencing numeracy andneural pathways influencing numeracy andliteracy.literacy.

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What does the future hold?What does the future hold?

As academics like Squire and Posner As academics like Squire and Posner continue to point out the positive outcomescontinue to point out the positive outcomesassociated with videogame play it is myassociated with videogame play it is mycontention that electronic simulations will becontention that electronic simulations will beused by more of a widespread audience inused by more of a widespread audience inacademia.academia.

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2121 stst CenturyCentury

In a world of cell phones, Facebook, Twitter,In a world of cell phones, Facebook, Twitter,and iPhone applications schools need toand iPhone applications schools need tostop banning the use of electronic mediumsstop banning the use of electronic mediumsand they need to embrace the potentialand they need to embrace the potentiallearning that can be gleaned fromlearning that can be gleaned frominteracting with these devices in ainteracting with these devices in ameaningful educationally appropriate way.meaningful educationally appropriate way.