Literally, everything from office work to school days has been put on hold because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Although the current situation is challenging, some teachers are taking the unconventional route by adding video games as teaching material.
Video games, as an entertainment platform, is peaking now that more people are advised to stay at home. Now, teachers across the globe are using the platform as an avenue for learning and development. While Minecraft used to be one of the first things people think about when discussing education and video games, it’s actually Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey that’s opening up new possibilities.
A virtual tour of ancient Greece
Montreal-based history teacher Kevin Péloquin was initially planning to take his class on a trip to Greece, but because of the current restrictions on travel, it’s no longer advised for him to do so. Instead of letting go of a learning opportunity, he instead proposed to make the tour in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey instead.
Although the game focused primarily on combat, it also had a story that centered mainly on Greek mythology, lore, and history. Most importantly, developer Ubisoft had created an amazing virtual retelling of what ancient Greece would’ve looked like.
Péloquin asked his students to play the game and use it as the foundation of their upcoming report. The better news? Péloquin reached out to Ubisoft for help, and the developer obliged by giving the teacher’s 23 students a free copy of the game.
Surprisingly, Ubisoft notes that many teachers are reaching out to them for help. This should not be surprising as the Assassin’s Creed games aren’t all about blades and killing.
Despite what it shows upfront, each title is actually heavily researched, making them more suitable for learning.
In fact, 2017’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins even had a Discovery game mode to let players freely explore and learn about ancient Egypt.
More games for learning
Using video games as a learning platform is already unorthodox on its own, but for Assassin’s Creed to be the main attraction is something else.
Previously, sandbox creative games like Minecraft and Roblox were used to teach kids. As players are able to create almost anything in these games, teachers have since used them to create virtual tours, learn about construction, and more.
It’s good to see teachers doing their best to ensure that learning proceeds in times like these. It’s even better to see developers doing their part to provide teachers and students with the learning materials they need. In times like these, such unconventional methods may only be our way to make life move on.
Image used courtesy of StartupStockPhotos/Flickr