The V4T - Videogames 4 Teachers project

Games

Translation:

This Section provides access to an Online database of:
• The best educational Videogames and mobile apps available on the market
• The most suitable Videogames and Apps that, even if not specifically designed for educational purpose, can be used as teaching or learning tools with students

Videogames and apps are categorized, analyzed and assessed in order to provide the teachers with all the necessary information and hints to make full use of the Videogames and Apps in teaching contexts.

Partners' Institution
Kaunas University of Technology

Author
Gintare Dzindzeletaite

APPS/VIDEOGAMES

Product type
Educational videogame

Name of the videogame/app
Flight Simulator X

Name of the producer
Microsoft video games

Year
2006

How to find it
To be Purchased

Main technical requirements
Windows

Native Virtual Reality Support
No

Single/Multiplayer
Multiplayer

Type
Role Playing, Simulation, Strategy

Target Audience
12-17 years, 18+ years

Augmented Reality
No

PEGI Clasification
3

Use in Educational contexts

Degree of required tutoring
Autonomous use by students

Subjects involved
Geography, Physics, Technology

Educational Potential
Flight Simulator X is an educational Microsoft game introduced in 2006. The player acts as a pilot that controls the plane. The game includes 18 different plane models, 28 detailed different cities, and over 24,000 airports. The player can fly anything from a small glider or a light experimental aircraft to jumbo jets. The game features an immersive air traffic control system and dynamic real-world condition weather. The geography matches the part of the world that the player is flying in.
Flight Simulator X is a great educational game that helps to develop geography skills as the player can travel between the biggest airports in the biggest cities in the world. As well as physics and technology, by learning how to control the takeoff and landing of the plane, also, how to control the plane whilst in the air. Besides technology, physics and geography also it teaches teamwork and collaboration. As it is a multi-player game it allows gamers to go to a mission and choose their responsibilities that varies from pilot to the air-control officer.
Possible negatives of this video game:
- Video game addiction

Learning Object / Suggested activities with students
The game could be played in either physics or geography class. In geography class scenario the teacher should split students into groups were pupils would choose their task - to be a pilot, air-control officer etc. as well as they should be given a mission to accomplish. Whilst working on the mission they should also get the names of the airports to fly to, however, they should not be given the name of the town where the airport is so they could work it out themselves. After the mission student would draw the map of countries they have visited and mark the town they have flown the aircraft.
In the physics class scenario student should get similar tasks however the result of the task could be a presentation/description of the physic laws applied to achieve the result.

Skills and competences

Skills and competences acquired
Through the use of the videogame/app according to learning outcomes few soft skills have acquired:
- Strategic thinking: players plan their tactics and moves.
- Teamwork: working in teams in different roles (pilot, first officer etc.)

Soft skills
Critical thinking, Team working

1 Comments

Partners' Institution
FH JOANNEUM

Author of the comments
Kurt

I like simulations to enhance one's practical skills after learning about the theory. Flight simulator is one of my favorits to learn by acting in a specific role. On the other hand it takes a lot of time to handle all the possible features in that simulation. Therefore different levels for different user skills would help a lot by switching on and off spezific categories.