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November 11, 2003
What Can Education Learn from the Video Game Industry?
There's
a thought provoking discussion over at IAETE's Soapbox on the topic
"What
Can Education Learn from the Video Game Industry?"
Marc Prensky, author of Digital Game-Based Learning, opines,
In my opinion, the only thing that really works here is a combination of pure creativity and high passion. Both must come from two directions--creativity and passion about the subject matter, and creativity and passion about the medium.
I think "true" subject matter experts (i.e., expert practitioners) who want to create a game about their subject need to think along the following lines: "How could what I do so well be thought of as a game that only I, or someone with my experience and know-how, could win? And how could I structure this game so that by playing it a lot one could eventually become as good as me?" Once that has been worked out conceptually, it needs to be meshed with the many gameplay techniques available--what works, what is doable, hard, easy, and what new things have to be invented.
This notion of trying to grab a page from the game world, that is, of trying to develop Gizmos that "are multiplayer, creative, collaborative, challenging, and competitive" is very much on our minds here at ExploreLearning. As part of our "design in public" ethos, you may see some of our thinking along these lines in early prototype form at some point in the future.
Posted by ExploreLearning at 08:45 AM in Edu/Tech | Permalink
Comments
I agree that a lot can be learned from games. Some of the simplest gizmos I've made are a bit game like but have very interesting math or physics behind them that can be brought up during play. Learning a bit more about the laws governing the game often yields higher scores ;)
One really simple game-like gizmo is the Black Hole game that I made for fun, but when students use it they quickly learn that with a high initial velocity a bucket of ore will not deflect much when passing a black hole, but with a low velocity the bucket can drastically change direction. To score the really big points takes a well thought out shot.
The current featured Gizmo of 3D/Orthographic views is also rather game-like, but educational.
Who remembers Rubik's Cube?
Stay tuned...a few ideas from 'wacky' developers might sneak out of our office and make it to the EL site one of these days...anyone have any requests?
Posted by: Rp | Nov 12, 2003 11:28:39 AM
Chess is a classic game, and since computers first showed up many people have worked on building a computer that can beat the best chess players in the world. Currently "Fritz" has a lead on Kasparov in a four game chess batte. Are computers getting smarter than humans? Not quite yet, but when programmed to do one task computers can do a LOT of calculations! In the early days of computer chess I used to win a lot of games. Now I get crushed whenever I play my computer :(
Game 3 of the battle is later today, so if you want to "watch" the game live on the internet you can visit Fritz X3D's home.
Posted by: Rp | Nov 16, 2003 8:37:56 AM
