From popular culture to traditional culture: learning through video games

Abstract

Gee (2007) argues that video games can lead to deep intellectual engagement in a highly motivating context. Often the context for engagement with video games has been described as occurring within a 'popular culture'. This paper examines the benefits of a proposal for video game development in Australia to introduce learners to aspects of specific traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture. This melding of popular and traditional culture mirrors the work of the University of Wisconsin, Games and professional Practice Simulation group in relation to American First Nation culture. To contextualize the paper for international readers some details of Indigenous Australian cultures and the sites of the study are described. The literature review looks at what is known about the advantages and disadvantages of educational games and links this to the emerging use of games to foster knowledge of Indigenous cultures.