Enjoy fast, FREE delivery, exclusive deals and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery

List Price: $21.99 Details

Save: $3.48 (16%)

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns

FREE delivery Tuesday, August 1 on orders shipped by Amazon over $25. Order within 22 hrs

Select delivery location

In Stock

[{"displayPrice":"$18.51","priceAmount":18.51,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"18","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"51","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"dz%2FDdYe6FU%2BlaydH9UmmMGr0AU4vDQHcrgJwSJAy9V3URVUxMARUgJ%2FuKlwrWHNdA4c4qoNxmCgbWyEp9GvnKlDV7utoV5CDL%2B65NIDJkwmsbzeQGe9YvJasyZIIjfQgEsT03wDcGko%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0},{"displayPrice":"$6.47","priceAmount":6.47,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"47","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"dz%2FDdYe6FU%2BlaydH9UmmMGr0AU4vDQHchc5hcv5Vmb0ojcY09SehOR4MT4kgXeGK5Iana3vTbjphx01IFR7KYXk2p2PN26F%2B7cprXuHQoJGwPpzlQzlAQHEAYIxbPYT5hprTW2UfJ96AsjlU2iOCZGmlIZSynC3XkwFtR90lpdnMXy8ClVfQaw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]

$$18.51 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Payment

Secure transaction

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Details

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Ships from

Amazon.com

Sold by

Amazon.com

Returns

Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.

Read full return policy

Add a gift receipt for easy returns

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery August 18 - 23 on orders shipped by Amazon over $25

Or fastest delivery August 16 - 18

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by HigherEdBooks5

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$18.45
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: GF Books, Inc.

Added

Not added

$14.54
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: indoobestsellers

Added

Not added

$19.55
+ $3.99 shipping

Sold by: TheProductsHub

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 2 images

Follow the Author

James Paul Gee

What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Second Edition: Revised and Updated Edition Paperback – December 26, 2007

by James Paul Gee (Author)

4.4 185 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$12.99

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$18.51

$14.45

$1.73

Kindle
$12.99 Read with Our Free App
Paperback
$18.51

59 Used from $1.73 11 New from $14.45 3 Collectible from $8.98

Purchase options and add-ons

James Paul Gee begins his classic book with "I want to talk about video games--yes, even violent video games--and say some positive things about them." With this simple but explosive statement, one of America's most well-respected educators looks seriously at the good that can come from playing video games. In this revised edition, new games like World of WarCraft and Half Life 2 are evaluated and theories of cognitive development are expanded. Gee looks at major cognitive activities including how individuals develop a sense of identity, how we grasp meaning, how we evaluate and follow a command, pick a role model, and perceive the world.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

St. Martin's Griffin
Publication date

December 26, 2007
Dimensions

6.1 x 0.65 x 9.2 inches
ISBN-10

1403984530
ISBN-13

978-1403984531
See all details

Frequently bought together

What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Second Edition: Revised and Updated Edition

$18.51

Get it as soon as Tuesday, Aug 1

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

$20.00

Get it as soon as Tuesday, Aug 1

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Choose items to buy together.

Most purchased | Lowest Pricein this set of products
Daniel H. Pink
8,290
Paperback
$9.99
Highest ratedin this set of products
Margaret Carmody Hagood
1
Paperback
$12.00
This item:
James Paul Gee
185
Paperback
$18.51
Jane McGonigal
982
Paperback
$20.00
Peter Smagorinsky
88
Paperback
$44.11
Celia Hodent
84
Paperback
$13.56
Ian Bogost
64
Paperback
$18.95
Yu-kai Chou
720
Paperback
$23.40
. Lankshear
7
Paperback
$40.82
Jamie Madigan
140
Paperback
$22.95
Jesse Schell
422
Paperback
$52.94

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Gee astutely points out that for video game makers, unlike schools, failing to engage children is not an option.” ―Terrence Hackett, The Chicago Tribune

“These games succeed because, according to Gee, they gradually present information that is actually needed to perform deeds.” ―Norman A. Lockman, USA Today

“James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy has been a transformative work. Gee might be described as the Johnny Appleseed of the serious games movement, planting seeds that are springing new growth everywhere we look. More than anyone else, he has forced educators, parents, policy makers, journalists, and foundations to question their assumptions and transform their practices. Gee combines the best contemporary scholarship in the learning scientists with a gamer's understanding of what is engaging about this emerging medium.” ―Henry Jenkins, author of Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide

About the Author

James Paul Gee has been featured in a variety of publications including Redbook, Child, Teacher, USA Today, Education Week, The Chicago Tribune, and more. He was formerly the Tashia Morgridge Professor of Reading at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is now the Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies at Arizona State University. He is a founder of the Center for Games and Impact at ASU which orchestrated a national conversation on games and learning for the White House Office of Science and Technology. Described by The Chronicle of Higher Education as "a serious scholar who is taking a lead in an emerging field," he is the author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; 2nd edition (December 26, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1403984530
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1403984531
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 0.65 x 9.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #215,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #378 in Medical Cognitive Psychology
- #569 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences
- #653 in Cognitive Psychology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 185 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Important information

To report an issue with this product, click here.

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

James Paul Gee

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

James Paul Gee is the Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies and Regents’ Professor at Arizona State University. He is a member of the National Academy of Education. His books include: Sociolinguistics and Literacies (Fifth Edition 2015); Situated Language and Learning (2004); An Introduction to Discourse Analysis (Fourth Edition 2014); What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy (Second Edition 2007); How to Do Discourse Analysis (Second Edition 2014); The Anti-Education Era: Creating Smarter Students through Digital Media (2013); and Literacy and Education (2015). Prof. Gee has published widely in journals in linguistics, psychology, the social sciences, and education.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

185 global ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Scientia

Excellent book on games and education.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 29, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book is getting up there in years but is still referenced frequently by anyone who uses games in education. I purchased it years ago based on the recommendation of a professional game developer and it is still one of the first resources I suggest to others who plan to use games in any way to train or teach.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 18, 2010

Verified Purchase

In this book I was enlightened to the in-depth world of video gaming. The only video games I remember playing back the early 1980s was Asteroids, so I had no idea about the complexity of the today's "good games" and the amount of cognitive strategy that goes on within the player's mind. In each chapter Gee goes into specific detail explaining selected game scenarios which correspond to a selected set of his 36 Learning Principles. He states that these learning principles, which are evident in video games, can be transposed to classroom learning. He is critical of the current state of the classroom which, in his opinion, still maintains a lackluster skill-and-drill approach to learning which is a very different strategy presented in video games. The principles Gee has developed while observing- and playing- video games is, as he says, " a plea to build better schools on on better principles of learning."

He makes excellent points that I, and I am sure others, will relate to. Learning through hands-on experience can be so much more rewarding and long lasting, and the scenarios which video games players find themselves working within, activate situated cognition and social learning. In other words, Gee shows us how video games help players learn how to pick up on patterns, learn through the situations they engage within, and operate within a social network where they can synthesize their skills and strategies as a main character in the drama of the game. What I have learned from reading this book is how transformative video game learning can be as compared to passive or outside experience of, for example, listening to a teacher lecture, because players can actually become one of the characters and therefore activate higher levels of learning.

He does mention the issues of violence and gender (how women are depicted) in video games (an area of concern for parents and educators), and in that chapter he briefly provides readers some research based evidence to consider on the effects of violence and gender issues on players. I understand that he is asking readers to re-consider pop culture's sometimes overblown concerns of video gaming, and take a good look at really what is really going on in video games.

It is a fascinating read and it has caused me to reconsider the hours my teens spend on their video games. Although balance is neccesary, I am priming myself to not be so judgemental in my thinking that they are just "wasting their time" and not being productive. There is more going on than I ever realized!

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Stacey

An Eloquent Description of Learning that Happens in Video Games

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 16, 2011

Verified Purchase

I do not play video games, however, after reading this book I now have a new respect for video games. Gee clearly and eloquently explains the kind of learning that is encouraged in well-designed video games.

This book is NOT a methods book. You will NOT learn techniques on how to design better games or better instruction. But you WILL learn how video games encourage deep learning (i.e., a deep understanding of the game and how to be successful) and develop critical thinking skills that players use to become successful at playing a specific game AND video games in general. You will learn that game designers deliberately develop deep learning and critical thinking skills, NOT to make players experts in zombies or war, but to set them up to be successful at playing the game and to have a great game playing experience. That gamers foster learning that develops self-esteem and self-efficacy through game play. Gee will also share his opinion of how the educational system might incorporate these elements in the classroom to foster critical thinking and deep learning of subject matter.

If you don't play video games, this book will give you insight in to the kind of learning that is deliberately encouraged in video games.
If you DO play video games, you'll develop an understanding of why the games you play are designed that way.
If you design instruction (or video games) you'll now have a framework and a vocabulary you can use to design and discuss those elements that make learning engaging and effective.

14 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ilya Grigorik

Principles of deep learning

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

Good video games offer players strong identities; they make players think like scientists; they lower the consequences of failure; ... In short, good games provide an environment that is optimized for deep-learning. Best of all, all of these concepts are directly applicable to learning just about any skill - from how to traverse a virtual landscape, to basic science, math, and yes, even good social skills.

That's not to say that every video game on the shelf will meet the above criteria, but as James Gee points points out: many do. After all, if they don't, they're out of business. In the meantime, our educational system could really benefit from picking up a few of the techniques described in this book - ever wonder why so many "ADHD students" can't sit still in class, but then spend hours concentrated on a video game? Perhaps it's not the students, but rather the method of delivery and the content itself? The book offers 36 principles that are often found in great games, and which can help us build both better classrooms and computer games -- or, even better, classrooms with engaging computer games.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

NeelamS

Book in great condition. Prompt service. Thanks!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 21, 2022

Verified Purchase

Book in great condition. Prompt service. Thanks!

Helpful

Will

Imperfect book but great resource

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 26, 2009

Verified Purchase

There is not much critical theory out there on video games and James Paul Gee provides thoughtful observation on where literacy and learning intersects with video games. A lot of the book has to do with how video games as a new form of literacy, can construct our identities in ways unique to the medium and considers new levels of perception. He cites games like Half-Life, Tomb Raider, World of Warcraft and a handful of others and does a good job of keeping his analysis fairly close to the games.

The only place I would ding the book is that his examples are slightly outdated and this can be expected considering how quickly the video game industry moves but his observations still hold up. Gee has some very interesting ideas about video games without getting too caught up in theoretical terminology, so even though it tends towards the academic, it is still open to more casual readings. It's a good resource for critical theory on video games and well worth the cost.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Maelen Moonsinger

Wake-up call

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

Commonsensical in an area where a lot of teachers are suffering from severe cases of crano-rectal inversion. Helps them understand why the kid who can't finish a short story at school will then go home and show he has all the 800 written documents in Skyrim memorized.

S'cratchy the Khajiit: I'm more interesting that George Washington, teacher. That's not because Washington is boring. It's because you are.

BX

とて

Reviewed in Japan 🇯🇵 on March 15, 2009

Verified Purchase

　テレビゲームは脳に悪い、などという非科学的なことを行っている人には、是非読んでもらいたい1冊である。機械に影響を受けるほど、脳はヤワではない。
　30分やそこら、ゲームをやっても脳に影響など全くない。
もちろんスポーツのしすぎで、靱帯を痛めたりすることがあるように、やり過ぎは、どんなことでもよくないのは当然である。

Translate review to English

B. Kavan

Four Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 25, 2014

Verified Purchase

Confirmation of learning should be fun, inventive and self-motivating
Well written
Very worth reading for educators and parents

V. Schreiber

A different perspective on video games and learning

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on March 7, 2010

Verified Purchase

Gee provides a rather narrow and previously unheard perspective on games: The strategies of learning they employ to help gamers understand how to play each game.

Surprisingly (at least to me), they - according to Gee - are very similar to the strategies that cognitive science and learnign science propose for active and critical learning. So, in the process of reading this book the reader gains not only insight in the functionality of video games, but also in modern learning theories:

How for instance good learning about physics not only focuses on content (like physical principles), but also on the "domain of physics" itself: Understanding specific values, language, and goals practiced within the scientific community. Or that learning about a certain domain (natural or human science, music, games..) forms the identity of a learner.

Certaing games (Gee labels them "good games") are very good at adressing these issues, and are therefore easy and fun to learn for the player, reward her at the right moment and so on.

In the book, Gee describes a whole of 36 of such principles of good learning and analyses modern games of different genres according to these principles. He focuses on complex games that allow the player to enter a virtual wold or tell a complex story. Examples from the text include The Sims, Half Life, Halo, Picmin, World Of Warcraft, Arcanum, Time Machine, Castle Wolfenstein... (just to list a few).

I found the book very interesting, especially from the perspective of producing educational and serious games. I also liked the structure of the book, where each principle is explained by different expamples from games or scientific studies. The text is easy to read, entertaining (when Gee talks about his own expieriences with games), and occasionally provocative (like, when he states that computergames are sometimes better at teaching than school teachers).

However, the reader will not (or only marginally) find topics like violence in games, gender roles or video game addiction covered.

About me: I studied digital media technology and design, have a lot of experience in playing video games and am reading the book primarily as theoretical background for creating an educational game.

3 people found this helpful

Doc Hudson

A good start

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

If you want a good introduction into video games and learning, this is a great place to start. It's intelligently written and accessible.

See more reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	6pm Score deals on fashion brands	AbeBooks Books, art & collectibles	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy	Sell on Amazon Start a Selling Account

Amazon Business Everything For Your Business	Amazon Fresh Groceries & More Right To Your Door	AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally	Home Services Experienced Pros Happiness Guarantee	Amazon Ignite Sell your original Digital Educational Resources	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Audible Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data	ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics	DPReview Digital Photography	Fabric Sewing, Quilting & Knitting

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need	Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Prime Video Direct Video Distribution Made Easy

Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Amazon Warehouse Great Deals on Quality Used Products	Whole Foods Market America’s Healthiest Grocery Store	Woot! Deals and Shenanigans	Zappos Shoes & Clothing	Ring Smart Home Security Systems

eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room	Blink Smart Security for Every Home	Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts	Amazon Subscription Boxes Top subscription boxes – right to your door	PillPack Pharmacy Simplified	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust

Amazon Prime includes:

Buy new: $18.51$18.51 FREE delivery: Tuesday, Aug 1 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon. Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com

Buy used: $6.47

Other Sellers on Amazon

Follow the Author

What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Second Edition: Revised and Updated Edition Paperback – December 26, 2007

Purchase options and add-ons

Frequently bought together

What do customers buy after viewing this item?

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

Important information

About the author

James Paul Gee

Customer reviews

Submit a report

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy new:

$18.51

FREE delivery: Tuesday, Aug 1 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Ships from: Amazon.com

Sold by: Amazon.com

Buy used:

$6.47