One of the most pressing questions for educators who explore the possibilities of digital games for teaching and learning is whether knowledge and skills learned “in game” can be transferred to external contexts. A recent incident in North Carolina provides anecdotal evidence that the answer is, “Yes, knowledge and skills learned ‘in game’ are transferable.”
A recent post on the America’s Army community pages details an incident where a frequent player of the online game was able to apply his knowledge and skills to a real-life critical incident:
A longtime America’s Army player became a first responder at a tragic car accident last November by employing life saving techniques he learned by playing the America’s Army game. Twenty-eight year old Paxton Galvanek was able to evaluate and treat the victims at the scene. Paxton credited the combat medic training he completed in the popular America’s Army online PC game with teaching him the critical skills he needed to react appropriately in this crisis situation. This is the second time an America’s Army player has reported successfully using medical skills learned through playing the game to respond in a life-threatening situation.
The rest of the story can be found here.
Of course, this is a single, anecdotal incident that requires more thorough analysis from a learning science perspective. Nevertheless, it is an intriguing story that should provide impetus for further investigation.
