Tanya, Good point Tanya. I have taught keyboarding before at the middle school level and games are used to reinforce the proper touch typing technique. However, many schools are not using certified teachers to demonstrate the proper touch typing technique so the game is actually reinforcing improper technique. Dr. Karen Drage

Janis, Great post. Sometimes learners get so involved in the competition, the achievement of objectives is difficult to assess. The open ended questions on a discussion board is a way to emphasize the objectives. It is also a great way to informally/formally assess achievement. Dr. Karen Drage

Phyllis, Excellent point. The gap is definitely closing. Dr. Karen Drage

Freya, Good response. Online does not necessarily mean that learners are on their own and the social presence helps to show the learner that he or she is not alone. Dr. Karen Drage

Cameron, Excellent post. As an instructor/trainer, it is important to assess the level of competition in a game. As you stated, if the student finds it impossible to compete at the level of the other students, he/she may not be motivated to continue. The goal of instruction is to achieve the objectives and students cannot achieve the objectives if they are frustrated and quit. Dr. Karen Drage

Ron, Thank you for your response. I did not see any statement on whether you feel that 360 assessments are effective for games and simulations. What are the advantages of using this assessment for games and what are the challenges? Dr. Karen Drage

Ron, Yes, the military has been using games for decades and so has NASA. The information on reaction time and accuracy is an important skill. Most of the games address the skill level of a learner but little on the feelings and psychological reactions. I was looking for an example of a company here but you did provide an appropriate example. Dr. Karen Drage

Ron, Excellent point. The "freemium" games also have an adverse effect on motivation. It causes the learner to mistrust the purpose of the game and many learners will withdraw. Dr. Karen Drage

Ron, Good thought Ron. Sometimes technology changes so quickly that it is difficult to have a definition that encompasses all the aspects of gaming. Being open to new types of games and not getting caught up in the definition is a perfect response to this discussion. Dr. Karen Drage

How can games and simulations reward the brain? Also, how can a game or simulation provoke positive emotions?