Being the nerd I am I was instantly drawn to the TED talks about video games. In my video Gabe Zichermann talked about how video games may actually be making us smarter and how they should be integrated into society.
Zichermann's main argument was that video games and "gamification" are the future of education. Zichermann starts off with a picture of the Atari, the first major video game console. He takes the audience on a trip through history as he brings them through the evolution of games to the current "G generation". Zicherman uses his visual aids to show, not just tell his points. He displays the first and final levels of Plants vs. Zombies to show how games evolve and teach players. He shows the audience funny pictures to provide some comic relief and keep them interested. Zichermann's argument is complemented by his streamline power point. The text is short and to the point. The questions are aimed to get the audience thinking as he moves along with his presentation. The power point catches the audience's eyes and gets them focused as he simultaneously bombarded them with the benefits of "gamification", the use of games to entertain and educate others. He, like an expert presenter, uses this principle in his own presentation as he fills his power point with flashy games and pictures meant to entertain the audience, like games. By visually stimulating the audience he creates a positive feedback loop just like in a video game where the audience is hooked on the presentation. The seemingly impotent pictures and colours actually play a powerful role, keeping his audience engaged and excited about his presentation. It is through these visual aids that Zichermann backs up his argument.
Zicherman began his presentation with the old and subsequently ends with the new. He points to the future and puts it in the audience's hands. It is up to us as a society and a community to shape our future. Games will undoubtedly shape the youth of today. The only question is how.
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