The Becker Blog

5 Lessons Professors Can Learn From Video Games -

Technology – The Chronicle of Higher Education

Nice article.

via 5 Lessons Professors Can Learn From Video Games – Technology – The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The author suggests we might be in the “third level” of video games inside the ivory tower, one where people are

recognizing that games are often not the best tools in an educational setting, but when they are, they should carefully balance substance and sport.

At that level, it’s possible to deconstruct video games, looking for takeaways that professors can try in their own teaching, whether or not they ever pick up a joystick or click “play.”

I have some comment son each of those parts:

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OK, this is just too much fun.

I seem to be on a bit of a Rant-kick today.

Perhaps it is partly because I am now finished my dissertation and have successfully defended it. I don’t feel the same need to placate.

Many of the conferences I follow have not only a substantial web presence, but they now also support online submission, review, and registration to a greater or lesser extent. Some work very well and others are very amateurish.

I have a few suggestions:

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KEEP THEM CURRENT!!!!

Sheesh.

How can someone claim to be “with it” technologically when their webpages were last updated a YEAR ago? These are modern times. And your webpage is your public face. Do it right.

First, if you are in a technological discipline (computer science, ed tech, etc.) and you do NOT have a web page, that gives a bad impression. Shame on you. I know several people who do not maintain webpages, at least partly because they DON’T KNOW HOW. Someone looking for information on you can’t tell why you have no web presence, only that you don’t have one.

Second, understand that you will be judged by what you do and do not put on your webpages. You need not bare your soul, but also make sure you don’t look so clinical that you appear boring (unless of course, you really ARE boring in which case it is an honest reflection).

OK. So I did a little experiment (just now)…..

I took a look at a CS department of an online university. I won’t identify which one; the important thing here is that these values are representative – understand that the results are far from unique.

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I was asked this question yesterday. I may be paraphrasing, but this was the essence of it.

It was a good question.

I was among a group of peers, but I was also in a position where I didn’t want to offend anyone – at least partly because these were people I had just met. I have been attacked in the past (both verbally and physically) by so-called colleagues for expressing my opinions about what a university should be and do, so I am, not surprisingly, a little head-shy.

I have fairly old-style and idealistic views about what an institution of higher learning should be and how it should serve the society in which it operates. These include honesty, integrity, and sharing knowledge. They also include asking hard and sometimes embarrassing questions so that we may examine them and become better (see also dangerous ideas). Universities are supposed to advance knowledge, and teaching universities are supposed to help prepare the next generation.

I did of course have a lot of ideas flood into my wee brain when the question was first asked, but ended up struggling for an answer as I tried to gauge how forthright I could be without sounding overly critical. I hate it when people who haven’t really been there and done that come in and try to tell me what I’m doing wrong. I did not want to come across as one of those.

Also, people who ask such questions often claim to want suggestions for improvement, but secretly want to be told about what a wonderful job they are doing. I didn’t know if the people I was talking to wanted my opinions or flattery. One of my strengths — or weaknesses, depending on how you look at it, is that I refuse to say something I don’t believe to be true. I equate this with honesty (don’t ever let anyone tell you life is easier if you are committed to being honest – it is in fact WAY harder, but I happen to believe it is how we should live.) I’ve had to give up more than one job because I won’t lie. I’ve also gotten into a lot of trouble for refusing to lie, but I have finally begun to learn a little about tact in my old age and I am better at keeping my mouth shut than I used to be.

Obviously, given the existence of this post, I still have trouble with it. The list below is an attempt to post my ideas in a neutral way – I really don’t want to poke at any particular institution, but I DO think online institutions have tremendous potential, if they are willing to meet the challenges. On the other hand, if they do not embrace new technologies with enthusiasm and a sincere willingness to experiment and discover whether and how a new technology can be used to advantage in distance education, they will get left behind in the same way that parochial-minded conventional institutions are being left behind.

I have, of course, been considering this question all day (since it was posed to me). So, here are some answers (in no particular order)….

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