Studies have shown that gaming could be an effective
tool in education. McGraw-Hill Education is betting on it, launching its
McGraw-Hill Practice suite that includes Government in Action.
The 3-D multiplayer game is an American government course designed for
college freshman which takes the player through the intricacies of being a U.S.
representative and explains the difficulties in getting legislation passed.
“The ability to interact rather than just reading a
text in this technology-driven age will probably drive more interest,” Rep.
John Tierney (D-MA) told CNN about the game. “Video games with a core educational component may supplement
traditional materials, such as textbooks, and may enable students to improve
their understanding of certain subjects.”
The goal of the game is for each player, who begins
with their election to the House of Representatives, to build enough political
awareness and capital during their two-year term to be re-elected. The game
assigns students a political affiliation and allows them to meet with the
president and go to the Supreme Court.
The game was tested at colleges and universities across
the United States where instructors found students enjoyed the game enough to
play it often. The iPad version was introduced at the 2013 South by Southwest education
conference, with an Android version in the works.
“Educators seem to have more tools available to them
than ever before and there’s no doubt that, when appropriately utilized,
technology has the capacity to enhance the classroom experience,” Tierney said.
“The key, of course, is to familiarize and excite teachers to maximize its use
in the most positive way.”
