Game creation studied as means for learning

STILLWATER — Whether it’s the high school girl who hates computer programming or the senior who loathes technology, there’s a digital divide in the computing world between those lacking computer skills and access and those who have them.

A team of investigators at Oklahoma State University hopes to help bridge such divides by designing computer-game creation curriculum that can be taught to all generations and taken to developing countries.

Their research, published in December in the "International Journal of Social and Humanistic Computing,” suggests creating computer games — rather than just playing them — could boost students’ critical and creative thinking skills, as well as broaden their participation in computing today.

Most people like playing games, said Nik Dalal, principal investigator and professor of management information systems. Nintendo Wii, for example, is popular across all age spectrums, he said.

"Game playing is instinctive,” Dalal said. "It creates excitement and energy that helps the gamer acquire tacit knowledge organically and see things outside the box.”

By creating computer games, students without realizing it not only learn computer theory, Dalal said, but also how to solve problems and be creative through story lines, characters or other selections.

Page 1 of 2

1 2 Next