[game_edu] The Multiplayer Classroom

[Aaron Chia Yuan Hung]

Hi,

I wrote a blog post recently on gamification (http://bit.ly/mEuTtY). I'm still trying to figure this thing out, specifically how it works best in different contexts (i.e., as a marketing tool vs. educational tool). I'd love some guidance if anyone has any thoughts, and I'll be sure to check out Professor Sheldon's book, too.

Aaron Chia Yuan Hung
aaron.chiayuanhung at gmail.com
@aaronhungcy
http://hungchiayuan.com

On Jul 1, 2011, at 1:09 PM, steve graham wrote:


> Comments below.

> 

> On 7/1/2011 11:40 AM, Ian Schreiber wrote:

>> 

>> Yes, balance is important. Wouldn't want our students to game the system and exit the class with a higher grade than they deserved (unless it's a game balance class, and exploiting the system is the direct application of the skills you're teaching ;-)

> lol

> 

> Or a lower grade, either.

>> 

>> Ironically, I think the danger of student exploits is higher in classes that *aren't* "gamified." With a class that is already run in a playful manner, the students are already operating somewhat within the Magic Circle; in my game-like final exams, I find that about five minutes in, most students have completely forgotten that they are in the middle of an exam worth 20+% of their final grade, they're just having too much fun. By contrast, with high-stakes grades in the absence of other mitigating factors, students have been trained (practically from kindergarten) that Grades Are Everything, and they therefore have the incentive to exploit the system (if not cheat outright) to reach this singular goal.

> Nice point. OTOH, I think it is very reasonable to think that students are *already* playing a game in classes, even if they aren't "gamified". 

> 

> The problem is that in classes which haven't been explicitly gamified, the students are playing a game of "maximize score while minimizing effort" (or maybe "minimize effort for adequate score"), rather than a game of "maximize learning".

> 

> I don't think this is a coincidence. School has already established a "magic circle", separate from "real life", where the problems (and consequences) are virtual. It *is* a game. It's just not generally a fun, motivating, or well-balanced game!

> 

> cheers,

> skg

> 

> 

> 

> -- 

> steve graham

> associate professor

> computer game design

> dakota state university

> skg at dsu.edu

> 605-480-6603

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