Extreme Learning

Reality, Risk and Educational Games

Comparison of learning

Example 1

• Classroom based

• Dissociation

• Academic

• Delayed risk

• Extrinsic risk

•No immediate feedback

Example 2

• Situated

• Thrownness

• Authentic

• Immediate risk

• Intrinsic risk

• Immediate feedback

Examples of Extreme Learning?

Risks of extreme learning

•Warfare You die

•Dangerous sports You injure yourself

•Medicine You injure someone else

•Theatre performance Embarrass yourself and cast

•Teaching Embarrass yourself

Get it wrong and..

Benefits of extreme learning

•Authenticity

•Personal engagement and commitment

•Towards “one shot” learning

Teaching methods

•Apprenticeship•Reflection in and on experience

Schön: reflection in action; reflection on action

•Value of limited examples•Learning by teaching

See one, do one, teach one

Design of environments for extreme learning

•Augmented reality, or simulated reality

•Coaching

•Minimisation of danger, but not of risk

•Emphasis on real consequences of failure

Reality: what is real?

•If you use a simulated calculator are you calculating?

•If you use a flight simulator, are you flying?

•So what is the difference between calculating and flying?

Calculation and flying

Calculation

•Its essential property is independent of its physical embodiment

•Mind game

•Failure causes mental annoyance

Flying

•Its essential property depends on “being there”

•Mind and body game

•Failure causes physical harm

Total simulation

•People are given a “flight in a Lear Jet”.Enters the plane. Flies around. Lands at the same place. Gets out.

•In fact, it was a flight simulator.

•Passengers believe they have flown in a Lear Jet.

•Was the flight real?

•No – the risks weren’t authentic

•Battlefield simulations: excitement but no risk

Risk and learning•Types of risk:

Immediate vs delayed Physical vs non-physical (e.g. financial) Easy to assess vs difficult to assess Individual vs collective Risk vs challenge

– Challenge without risk can lead to overconfidence and inability to anticipate danger

– Risk without challenge is foolhardy Risk vs harm

•Assessing associated risk is an important part of game playing

Risk for effective learning

•Immediately assessable•Direct connection between activity and risk•Risk rather than harm

(Simulated) reality + assessable intrinsic risk = extreme learning

Extreme learning games

•Real-world game activities in which reality and risk are maximised, and inauthenticity and harm are minimised

•Important to know the rules of the game, and to be able to act quickly to avoid breaking them

Issues from 1st presentation•Is “risk” the right term (too limited – calculation of

tradeoffs between benefits and harm)•Risk vs payoff – people are more willing to take risk

when high payoff•Individual differences

In assessing risk In tolerating risk (context dependent)

•Theme park design: designing to maximise challenge but minimise danger

•What are people learning in extreme learning? Learning about risk Learning to avoid risk Learning through risk (about some topic)