Instead of skipping class to play video games, University of Wisconsin students may be able to actually go to class instead find similar entertainment in upcoming semesters.

Engage — a sect of the UW Division of Information Technology established in 2003 — gives grants to faculty who want to use electronic gaming and simulation to improve teaching methods.

Christine Lupton, grants coordinator for DoIT, said Engage would allocate the grants within the next month and would then spend the spring semester developing its ideas into educational applications.

Lupton said the Engage grants are meant to allow UW faculty to design lessons in "a thoughtful way."

"In some ways we want the simulation and games to be similar to commercial ones … for the ways that make them compelling for students to want to play; but there is a learning outcome," Lupton said.

The technology already implemented in UW classrooms makes lecture materials available out of the classroom via podcast, but Lupton said it has not led to students skipping class more often. Instead, Lupton added, students have used the new technology to listen to lecture material again.

Chere Gibson, a UW human ecology professor who specializes in teaching and learning with technology, said she often skipped class when she was in college because her lectures were uneventful. Gaming and simulation in the classroom would change that, Gibson said.

Technology such as podcasts and simulation in the classroom give students flexibility and allow them to be better prepared for class. That way, Gibson said, classes could be used to "actually do something" with lecture time rather than just taking notes.

"Classes could go from the sharing of content to … the applying of content," Gibson said. "Yes, the worry is that students will skip classes, but they won't skip class if what they're learning in class is valuable."

Lupton said faculty at the meeting expressed particular interest in implementing role-playing into classrooms to create an "immersive experience" for students. The role-playing technology will allow students to experience off-campus cultures otherwise inaccessible to students during the school year.

According to Lupton, many professors began teaching when lecturing "was it" for university teaching methods. However, she added, those who want to use it, can learn.

"The faculty we work with are very motivated," Lupton said. "Motivation is the key thing. If you want to, you can learn it."