edtech games resources
Video games
Video games and simulations have evolved since the days of The Oregon Trail. But it's still a good idea to think about why they work. But once you've dug into the research, adapt some of the following examples for your classroom.
Sample games
- Mission US: No Turning Back (US, World)
- Be Washington (US)
- iCivics games
- Convene the Council (Civics)
- People's Pie (Econ, Civics)
- Portrait of a Tyrant (US)
- Updated Oregon Trail (US)
- Grepolis (World)
- Attentat 1942 (World)
- 1979 Revolution (World)
- Gerrymander (Civics)
- Worldle (Geo)
- When Rivers Were Trails (US, Geo)
- Stop Disasters (Geo, Econ)
- Cashflow Classic (Econ)
- Virtonomics Tycoon (Econ)
Research
- Digital Games as History: How Videogames Represent the Past and Offer Access to Historical Practice
- Playing with the Past: Digital Games and the Simulation of History
- The Playing Historian
Information
- New Oregon Trail Game Revisits Westward Expansion From Native Perspective
- Can Video Games Provide Meaningful Learning Experiences?
- Using Video Games to Effectively Teach Social Studies
- How to Teach With Video Games in the Classroom
- Teaching the Declaration Through Video Games
- Five Reasons Video Games Should Be Used in Schools
Books and Sites
- Explore Like a Pirate: Gamification and Game-Inspired Course Design to Engage, Enrich and Elevate Your Learners
- The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter
- Gaming the Past: Using Video Games to Teach Secondary History
- Gaming the Past website (list of game titles and teaching strategies)
board games
The research about games and play is not limited to just video and digital games. These board and card games can also have an impact on learning.