I’m still amazed at the unique systems teachers designed that get students involved in doing math using Portal 2. Each lesson plan has downloads to help organize and implement everything in your class. There are language arts lessons for middle schoolers, math and physics lessons for almost every grade, and even some game design. The “ Lesson Plans ” section has several activities covering different grades and subjects. Teach With Portals : If using Portal 2 sounds like something you want to do the best resource available is Teach With Portals, which was run by Valve (the company that developed Portal 2) during its “Steam for Schools” initiative. If you want to see some lessons that you could use or get some inspiration on pioneering your own idea s check out the following sites. The education community has done a great job sharing their ideas for using Portal 2. I used Portal 2 in my Sociology class to model how a non-traditional classroom could look before we dug further into our examination on educational systems, but there are many different ways it could be used.
No matter what type of lesson you make using a game like Portal 2 it will help students learn how experimentation is trial and error and that failure can bring you closer to success. There are a lot of lessons that bring Portal 2 into your classroom, though designing test chambers and the general structure of the game typically lends itself to a STEM classroom. Beyond the structured game, the players can also design their own test chambers, which is what most educators have used with their students. Portal 2 has potential for schools by providing a series of puzzles that promote critical thinking and problem-solving in a uniquely sardonic narrative. This trailer for Portal demonstrates that concept a bit more visually. They have a portal gun, which can shoot a portal in one spot, then shoot another portal somewhere else, and when you go through one portal you come out the other.
If you have never seen Portal 2 (the sequel to Portal), players are put into a series of test chambers and must figure out how to reach the exit. That led me to think about how Portal 2 could be used in schools, as I wanted to see how the game could challenge my students to solve physics and math problems in an environment they typically never experience during school. When I played Portal 2 a few years ago I found the game thought-provoking and fun, but I was incredibly excited when I heard my students talking about how they enjoyed the game too. Educators know that students need hands-on, engaging activities to help enhance their learning and the right video games are the best way to offer this opportunity.