1. Use of Computer Simulations
and Gaming to Enhance
Learning
ED480 Educational Technology
John Jenkins
Alvin Borja
Northern Marianas College - School of Education – SPRING 2012

2. Computer Simulation
• The technique of representing the
real world by a computer program;
"a simulation should imitate the
internal processes and not merely
the results of the thing being
simulated“
• Simulation allows people to
experience something without
actually being there physically.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/computer+simulation

3. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new

4. Interactive Games
• Activities that entertain and teaches
the player a lesson or subject.
• Games can be used to teach a concept
and assess what is being learned.
• Also stimulate users and encourages
the development of social and
cognitive skills.

5. Interactive Games
• Games have six key structural elements
which strongly engage the play. These
elements are:
– Rules
– Goals and objectives
– Outcomes and feedback
– Conflict/competition/challenge/opposition
– Interaction
– Representation or story

6. Examples
www.coolmath.com

7. Conclusion
• Some games and simulations allow
students to explore and create materials
that they could not work directly with in
real life .
• Student become more engaged when they
face a challenge that they feel they can
meet. Students also benefit from computer
simulations and games that become
progressively more complex and difficult.

8. Reference:
• http://www.m-
learning.org/docs/The%20use%20of%20c
omputer%20and%20video%20games%20f
or%20learning.pdf
• http://www.thefreedictionary.com/comp
uter+simulation
• www.coolmath.com
• http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/
category/new