Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesAmong the points highlighted in Clark’s recent article trashing serious games are that “…the research shows no instructional advantages of games over the other instructional approaches (such as lectures)…” and that “only poorly designed studies find learning benefits from games“. … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesClark, R. E. (2007). Learning from Serious Games? Arguments, Evidence, and Research Suggestions. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, May-June 2007, 56-59. Richard E. Clark says, “My goal in this column is to offer a brief view of the current state of the evidence … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesI have recently been working on a new methodology for the analysis of commercial video games in order to uncover mechanisms used to support learning. I am calling this new approach Instructional Ethology. It combines structural analysis based on black … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteI was at a conference recently, at a workshop where we were given an exercise that included a brainstorming activity. Among the guidelines was the now-all-too-common refrain: “There are NO wrong answers!” Poppycock. There are too wrong answers! Plenty of … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutesI’ve noticed that quite a few big names in ID (Instructional Design: Papert, Schank, Merrill,..) have backgrounds in AI (Artificial Intelligence, rather than the other AI) I find this a little disconcerting. In some sense the application of concepts from … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutesDo Animals Play Games? I guess it is always possible to discuss definitions, but if one is willing to accept a common-sense definition of play, then animals absolutely play. Kittens (and almost all adult cats) often ‘play’ when alone, which … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: 4 minutesI have seriously misjudged M. David Merrill. His Component Display Theory was very computer sciencey, and unwieldy, and really turned me off; but First Principles is *really* good. Thank you Gail for pointing me at it! I’ve had this notion … Continue reading
Approximate Reading Time: < 1 minuteThis looks like this might be worth a bit of time to investigate: http://immersiveeducation.org/It came across the game_edu list this morning. Media Grid call for participation: Immersive Education and Virtual Learning Environments High quality PDF and Web versions: http://MediaGrid.org/#NEWS BOSTON, … Continue reading