Teaching the Middle Ages Through Modern Games - (Video Games and the Humanities) by Robert Houghton (Paperback)

About the Book

The Learning and Teaching potential of historical physical and digital games is increasingly undeniable at every level of study. These games can provide a foundation of information through their stories and worlds. They can foster understanding of c

Book Synopsis

Games can act as invaluable tools for the teaching of the Middle Ages. The learning potential of physical and digital games is increasingly undeniable at every level of historical study. These games can provide a foundation of information through their stories and worlds. They can foster understanding of complex systems through their mechanics and rules. Their very nature requires the player to learn to progress. The educational power of games is particularly potent within the study of the Middle Ages. These games act as the first or most substantial introduction to the period for many students and can strongly influence their understanding of the era. Within the classroom, they can be deployed to introduce new and alien themes to students typically unfamiliar with the subject matter swiftly and effectively. They can foster an interest in and understanding of the medieval world through various innovative means and hence act as a key educational tool. This volume presents a series of essays addressing the practical use of games of all varieties as teaching tools within Medieval Studies and related fields. In doing so it provides examples of the use of games at pre-university, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels of study, and considers the application of commercial games, development of bespoke historical games, use of game design as a learning process, and use of games outside the classroom. As such, the book is a flexible and diverse pedagogical resource and its methods may be readily adapted to the teaching of different medieval themes or other periods of history.

From the Back Cover

Games can act as invaluable tools for the teaching of the Middle Ages. The learning potential of physical and digital games is increasingly undeniable at every level of historical study. These games can provide a foundation of information through their stories and worlds. They can foster understanding of complex systems through their mechanics and rules. Their very nature requires the player to learn to progress.

The educational power of games is particularly potent within the study of the Middle Ages. These games act as the first or most substantial introduction to the period for many students and can strongly influence their understanding of the era. Within the classroom, they can be deployed to introduce new and alien themes to students typically unfamiliar with the subject matter swiftly and effectively. They can foster an interest in and understanding of the medieval world through various innovative means and hence act as a key educational tool.

This volume presents a series of essays addressing the practical use of games of all varieties as teaching tools within Medieval Studies and related fields. In doing so it provides examples of the use of games at pre-university, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels of study, and considers the application of commercial games, development of bespoke historical games, use of game design as a learning process, and use of games outside the classroom. As such, the book is a flexible and diverse pedagogical resource and its methods may be readily adapted to the teaching of different medieval themes or other periods of history.

Review Quotes

"Die Aufsätze sind allesamt sehr praxisorientiert aufgebaut, positiv hervorzuheben ist auch, dass einige Autor: innen von unerwarteten Schwierigkeiten schreiben und wie sie ihnen in der Lehrpraxis begegnet sind. Der Band bietet eine insgesamt hilfreiche Sammlung von Beispielen für den Einsatz von Spielen mit Mittelalterbezug in der Lehre. Insbesondere da im deutschsprachigen Raum momentan etwas umfangreicher über den Einsatz von Spielen in der Schule gesprochen wird, stellt dieser Band mit Fokus auf die Hochschulpraxis und aus internationaler Perspektive eine sehr lesenswerte Ergänzung an Lehrbeispielen dar." Joana Hansen in: H-Soz-Kult, 13.09.2023, www.hsozkult.de/publicationreview/id/reb-130469 (02.10.2023)

About the Author

Robert Houghton, University of Winchester, United Kingdom.