ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH PART 5 3

Technology in schools

Exam task
you are going to read an article about using video games in education. For questions 1–6
1
choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Using video gaming in education

It has become conventional wisdom that spending too transformed into something more cohesive, with the
much time playing video games has a detrimental effect learners driving the change. With minimal teacher input,
on children’s studies and their social development. they set about choosing leaders and established several
However, some educationalists are now questioning teams, each with its own clearly-defined role. These teams,
this theory and are using video games as effective now party to clear common goals, willingly cooperated
educational tools thus bridging the gap between to ensure that their newborn world flourished, even when
recreational and educational activities. faced with the toughest of challenges.

Due to the sophisticated nature of today’s games, ‘Human’ inhabitants in a Minecraft ‘society’ are very
teachers are able to justify the inclusion of video and primitive and wander around the imaginary world,
online games for many pedagogical reasons. There may, waiting for guidance from players. This dynamic bears
for example, be sociological, psychological, and ethical a resemblance to traditional education, an observation
implications built into the gameplay. Harvey Edwards, who highlighted by Martina Williams, one of the leaders of the
teaches IT classes in London, was one such educator group. ‘Through the game, we were no longer passive
who decided to use video games in his lessons. To do learners in the classroom, being told what and how to
this, he chose Minecraft, an online game in which players learn, but active participants in our own society.’ Each
create and develop imaginary worlds. He was somewhat group member had ideas as to how their function should
uneasy about attempting such an unconventional develop. The leaders, meanwhile, had a vision for their
approach, not because of some students’ unfamiliarity virtual world as a whole, encouraging everyone to play their
with the game but rather due to them not being able part in achieving the group’s goals. Through creating their
to make sense of what he was trying to do with it. He own characters and using these to build their own ‘world’,
worried that it might interfere with his learners’ focus, but students will have gained some experiential understanding
he couldn’t have been more surprised by the results. of societal structure and how communities work.

Minecraft is an example of a ‘sandbox game’, in which But not everyone is convinced by video games’ potential
gamers roam around and change a virtual world at will. academic value. While many progressive commentators
Instead of having to pass through numbered levels to reach cite extensive evidence to maintain that video games
certain places, there’s full access from start to finish. The encourage collaboration and build problem-solving
original version can be adapted to control which characters skills, more traditional factions continue to insist they
and content are left in. Each student can then be allocated are a distraction that do not merit inclusion in any
tasks – such as house-building, locating items or problem- curriculum. Even less evangelical cynics, who may
solving – which they must complete within the game. grudgingly acknowledge games have some educational
Elements of more general skills can be subtly incorporated benefit, assert that this is only the case in the hands
into the lessons, such as online politeness and safety, of creative educators. However, the accusation most
teamwork and resolving differences. Edwards feels that often levelled at video games is that they detract from
presenting such lessons in the context of a game students the social aspect of the classroom, particularly taking
probably already know and enjoy enables him to connect part in discussions. Dr Helen Conway, an educational
with them at greater depth, and in more motivational ways. researcher, argues that video games can be used to
promote social activities. ‘Students become animated
Bolstered by his success, Edwards introduced his approach talking about the game and how to improve their game-
to another school nearby. He recalls that the first couple playing and problem-solving skills,’ she says. ‘I find it
of sessions didn’t live up to his expectations. Those who strange, this image that many people have,’ Conway
had played Minecraft before were keen for others to adopt says. ‘Children are often totally detached from their
their own style of play. Unsurprisingly, this assortment of peers when undertaking more traditional activities, like
styles and opinions as to how the game should proceed reading books, but we never suggest that books are
were far from harmonious. However, the sessions rapidly harmful because they’re a solitary experience.’

40 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 5 | 3 © Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018
 1. The first time Edwards used a game in his 4. In the fifth paragraph, the writer draws a
classes, he was comparison between a Minecraft ‘society’ and
A convinced that learners would realise why A relationships within the group as they
he wanted them to play it. played.
B convinced that learners would see the B the way in which countries organise
reasons for playing it. themselves.
C anxious that he had chosen the wrong one C typical students in a school environment.
for learners to play. D how leadership operates in different
D sure that his reasons for getting learners situations.
to play it were valid. 5. In the sixth paragraph, the writer feels that
2. The writer suggests that Minecraft is a good critics of video games in education
choice of educational game because A are unwilling to admit that using them in
A any number of learners can use it class has benefits.
simultaneously. B make accurate observations about
B teachers can remove any inappropriate teachers who use them.
material. C use flawed research to support their
C gamers can create educative tasks whilst objections to using them.
playing it. D acknowledge the drawbacks of more
D players can develop their skills in a step-by- traditional teaching methods.
step way. 6. The words ‘this image’ in the sixth paragraph
3. Which of the following words in the fourth refer to
paragraph is used to convey a feeling of approval? A people who criticise gaming in education.
A keen B students discussing a game in a group.
B harmonious C a group of students reading individually.
C driving D a solitary player absorbed in a game.
D newborn

Complete the sentences with the correct perfect tense form of the verb in brackets.
2
1. The video game more money than any other game in history. (make)
2. The company estimates that it more than 200,000 laptops by the end of this
year. (sell)
3. The students told the teacher that they Minecraft many times before. (play)
4. We this topic for about four weeks now, and I find it really
interesting. (study)
5. I so many different computers over the last five years, but this one is the best. (try)
6. He music files for about ten minutes when his computer crashed.
(download)
7. Tony a lot of positive feedback about the new smart phone, so decided to buy it. (read)
8. At this rate, the lesson before we this software
working properly. (finish, get)

Get it right!
Look at the sentence below. Then try to correct the mistake.

Dear Alex, I am happy to receive a letter from you.

© Cambridge University Press and UCLES 2018 ADVANCED READING AND USE OF ENGLISH | PART 5 | 3 41