Gamertell

This year, for the first part of my Summer Reading List columns, I’ve started with three books released late 2006 that have a school theme.

The first two are about games as educational tool instead of a brain-rotting, morally depraved, time wasting pastime for kids. The third really just looks like a text book.

The second part of my Summer 2007 Reading List will be available in about 4 weeks.

Don’t Bother Me Mom, I’m Learning
Marc Prensky, Paragon House, 2006 ($19.95)

This books starts out with really simplistic language, trying to lure in the harshest skeptics so the author can defend the premise that many videogames, even “Bully” and “Grand Theft Auto,” have a lot of educational value. As it progresses, the writing is much more fluid, as are the arguments, and far more convincing. A few personal examples demonstrate his theories pretty well, though the book could use a bit more hard evidence to back it up. At the every least it’s a good starting place for parents who are concerned about their gaming kids.

How Computer Games Help Children Learn
David Williamson Shaffer, Palgrave Macmillan, 2006 ($26.95)

Written by learning science associate professor, David Shaffer, this book premises its arguments with actual research studies, though all of the author’s defends his new assumptions with semi-empirical data collected from a few student subjects. In the book, students play several independent games created to teach children complex ideas with video games without blood and guts while maintaining an engaging experience. Of the two books, this was my favorite and best defended the idea that kids videogames can offer positive educational experiences for kids.

The Book Of Games Volume 1
Hans Christian Bjørne, Erik Hoftun et al., gameXplore N.A., Inc., 2006 ($29.95)

This book just has the, “Wow, cool,” factor as soon as you pick it up. Hard bound like an old school text book, “Book of Games” is actually an edited version of database entries of more than 200 games. Each pair pages includes key game features and a page of several (usually nine) full-color screen shots. The ultimate coffee book, anyone who picks it up will spent a lot of time thumbing trough this large collection.

Read [CiN Weekly]