Video shows initial student reaction to new educational gaming lab

Gaming is of course popular among college-aged students, and Teaching and Learning with Technology's Educational Gaming Commons (EGC) will offer a gaming lab when classes start this fall. The EGC lab is located in 6A Findlay Commons.

Faculty members can reserve the lab for blocks of time so students can use the space for course-related assignments and activities. If the lab is not reserved for course use, students are free to swipe in using their Penn State id+ cards and play games on the PCs, Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. It is a major step in developing educational gaming at Penn State.

Recently, the first group of students, IST 110 students from the second summer semester, spent some time in the brand-new lab. Chris Stubbs, collaborative developer with the EGC, brought his FLIP video camera to record some initial student responses. Watch the video here. 

As you can see, the response to the lab is generally positive. This is not just students wanting a place to only play games, the students also are excited about the prospects for learning. They also offered ideas on how to enhance the lab. 

If you would like to see the lab during its construction and hear more about the concepts behind the gaming lab, Brett Bixler, lead instructional designer, posted a video on Youtube back in June.