Playing to Learn?

First Problem: http://xkcd.com/657 Muskegon Community College
http://teachingcollegemath.com what if LOTR was a
course or a textbook? How DO
children
learn? they
give
it a
try they push at boundaries The brain is
ready to learn
by filling in blanks We tend to LIKE something if we are able to "see" the patterns in it When this happens, we begin to "groove" in the patterns ... to seek them out and to expect them. conscious thought the brain
functions
at three levels
of thinking making lists
recalling facts
mathematical
assigning values a simulation or a formal system where choices and rules are important allows you to practice patterns and permutations of patterns "Fun from games arises out of mastery. It arises out of comprehension. It is the act of solving puzzles that makes games fun. In other words, with games, learning is the drug." - Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun "Boredom is the brain casting about for new information. It is the feeling you get when there are no new patterns to absorb." Flower Power Factortris http://bit.ly/9uhSJF http://www.funbrain.com/ Math Baseball http://www.mangahigh.com Question that game designers ask themselves ...
- Dr. James Gee "How do I get somebody to learn something that is long and difficult and takes a lot of commitment, but get them to learn it well?" "the best instruction hovers at the boundary of a student's competence" - Andy diSessa, Cognitive Scientist [Video games] tend to encourage players to achieve total mastery of one level, only to challenge and undo that mastery in the next, forcing kids to adapt and evolve. - Dr. James Gee, University of Wisconsin
Wired Magazine, 2003 -Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun Tombstone City Munchman http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinah/239650274/ 2 5 28 Think like a Babylonian [ !?*!? ] 75 12 59 60 35 61 Babylonian
"Cheat Codes" http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/numbers/babylon/index.htm Revelation #4: I can still play the video games I played when I was a child. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobfoldsfive/2596985632/
Sorry bobfoldsfive, I am using this image without permission because I can't seem to log in to Yahoo to ask for permission. Please don't be mad! http://www.flickr.com/photos/kkseema/2042946052 http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/959010447 they
try
over
and
over
and
over http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/3039389897 they seek patterns GAME Learning is not Linear. Third Problem: - Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun Fourth Problem: Second Problem: We give away the "cheat codes"
for the game (learning) up front. the act of
mentally
mastering
a problem fun some games just make games lame IBL is great,
in theory, but ...
time-consuming
in reality. Designing and using activities where students learn new concepts by actively doing and reflecting on what they have done. The guiding principle is that instructors try not to talk in depth about a concept until students have had an opportunity to think about it first (Hastings, 2006). Inquiry-based Learning addition & subtraction of integers simplifying like terms
3x+4+2x-7 multiplication and division of integers solving
one-step equations
x+3=6 finding points that
fit x+y=5 absolute value
e.g. |-8| graph an inequality on a number line where
do we want
our students'
brains to be? why did
you go in to teaching? AHA moment =
the brain having fun See if you can figure out Babylonian without the "cheat codes" On linear learning paths,
students often get stuck
because of
one concept. autopilot reflexes
running "scripts" a game is a delicate balance between
boredom
and frustration sorting and packaging associative
integrative
intuitive
"common sense" Revelation #1: Technology is making "content" irrelevant. It's what you're able to do with the content that's important. Revelation #2: Revelation #3: My students, some of whom can't seem to learn algebra, CAN seem to learn complex video games that require logic, memorization, and teamwork, and strategy. We've been trying all sorts of untested strategies to improve student outcomes for decades, with little or no forward progress. children
think
learning
is fun what is a ? PLAY what is ? illustrations by
Mat Moore as adults, we perceive that
play is
"frivolous"
and non-
serious there are
many
definitions
and
descriptions and yet, children learn a remarkable amount before
they ever enter
formalized education "entrancing absorption" http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/2187892869/sizes/o/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/wjarrettc/2135222193/sizes/l/ play involves a relaxed pace
freedom to explore revelation #2 But, in education, we
have taken "fun"
out of learning. addition & subtraction of integers simplifying like terms
3x+4+2x-7 multiplication and division of integers solving
one-step equations
x+3=6 finding points that
fit x+y=5 absolute value
e.g. |-8| graph an inequality on a number line This is what we do in math
(and I suspect your discipline is similar) learning ^ So ... what can
we do? http://bit.ly/PlayLearn http://www.kwarp.com/portfolio/grammarninja.html Grammar Ninja Vocab Sushi http://www.vocabsushi.com/ http://lab.andre-michelle.com/tonematrix Tone Matrix You don't have to
"play" using a video game. Darfur is Dying The Forbidden City Discover Babylon Peacemaker McVideo Game Second Life:
The Ultimate Simulator SimCity Societies Places to Visit:
http://bit.ly/aAG7oX Simulations
of the
Real World Immune Attack Non-digital Games Shift the "exploration"
to the students. Handy Tip Maria H Andersen
@busynessgirl Not only can I still play this one,
I can get to higher levels
than I was able to as a child. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cmduke/3035453343/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/smiles_for_you/409382195/ from the time
we are very young ... Surely, we can
take advantage of
this in adult learning though it may require us to stretch our minds a little If we're not careful,
we're going to take
ourselves out of
learning too. Unfortunately, most
formal education focuses on
surface-level learning boring http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/241745451/ this is what
we could
(theoretically)
do in math one solution 4 in 5 young adults
half of adults
1/4 of seniors http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/Adults-and-Video-Games.aspx who plays video games? *disclaimer some games provide practice some games get it just right Final thoughts ... was it ... Let's put play and fun back in education. Maria H. Andersen
Twitter: @busynessgirl
busynessgirl@gmail.com
http://teachingcollegemath.com
Illustrations by Mat Moore
garlicandcoffee@gmail.com