Using Video Game Secrets in Education?

Within there is so much to react to – so I’ll pick just a few as I see them pertaining to educational ‘games.’

The “acquire, test, master” model is still intrinsic to game design, but unfortunately not to education. We need to help students master – before we test. Then allow adjustments, repeated attempts, and the possibility for students to feel free to try things and to learn without being judged or penalized. The judgment in education, the grade, is mostly seen as negative unless the student gets an ‘A’ but evaluation should be formative, supportive and helpful as the student strives toward the mastery goal.

Educators need to help students see the application of what they are doing. Many do not; many assume it is obvious; many don’t take the time or feel they have the time to show relevance in everything they teach; many think that the relevance will make itself manifest later on.

Progress toward the ‘goal in education – is that the graduation? In the article, Stuart states, “It’s all about communicating the player’s position on the arc, so they have a strong motivation to keep playing.” This approach should be used in education as well. Every now and then (more often than not) educators need to show the students their progress: toward the end of the lesson’s goals; toward the end of the school year; toward the end of their education; and possibly toward the end of their career or further.

One last idea is a challenge for educators to incorporate, but I think it would be so fun to do: “failure can be an important factor in keeping us entertained.” How cool would it be if the students would actually try to fail at a lesson once in a while because they know the end result (or ‘reward’) would be entertaining? Imagine the work needed to do just the opposite of the goal – understanding the goal, figuring out its mirror opposite and working toward that. Then, everyone having fun (somehow, not really sure . . . the educator would have to be creative here, or get students’ help in the result, too) when the absurd results are presented. Fun in education – how odd would that be?

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