Elementary school would have been much more interesting if educational field trips involved creating our own levels in video games. For one class of seventh graders at Evergreen School, a trip to Valve Software provided exactly that. After instructing these students to create their own levels for the popular video game title Portal using Valve’s Hammer Editor, the results were impressive.
Valve Software notes, “One of the biggest challenges in teaching science, technology, engineering, and math is capturing the students’ imaginations long enough for them to see all of the possibilities that lie ahead.” By using video games as a learning tool, teachers are now able to engage their students in new and fun ways while still remaining productive.
The role of video games in education has jumped substantially with teachers looking to find new ways to incorporate modern technology into their classrooms. Video games like Portal are being used to supplement additional learning, and in this case, promoted spatial reasoning and critical thinking.
Check it out below.
Oh, and in case you missed it, you have until September 20 to claim a free copy of Portal for your PC or Mac. Don’t miss out!
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