why games (2008)
TRANSCRIPT
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Learning From GamesLearning From Games
Katrin BeckerUniversity of Calgary
February 2008
This session focuses on how games can support learning, why they are a natural fit for
learning*, what we can learn from blockbusters, and how games are being used
now.
*if not for education
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
This presentation contains many links to other websites.
Try passing your mouse over the pictures – if the pointer changes to a hand, it is an active link that you can follow. Usually they will lead to the webpage that was the source of the image.
Most underlined text is linked to other pages.Also:(+) = link to other page in this presentation(-) = link to website or article containing further
information.
Note that there are many links to wikipedia entries. Although wikipedia is not considered to be a sound scholarly resource, it is often a great place to start, and it can be very useful for providing straight-forward and up-to-date explanations, especially of newer technological terms.
Notes on presentation accessible online:
Katamari Damacy
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Bit of Wild Ride....
Image source: http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/mtwr.htm
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Ready, Set, GO!!
Kids today (sheesh) (+)Importance of play
(what makes us human) (+)The Case for New Ways (again) (+)
Gamers (and what they do) (+)Games (and learning) (+)
The Masters (and learning from them) (+)Games and Pedagogy (by way of superimposition)
(+)Serious Games (Games for Learning and) (+)
(+) Takes you directly to that
section
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Kids Today (sheesh)
"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”
Attributed to SOCRATES by Plato ~400BC
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
“Kids Today” have been “Kids
Today” for
thousands of
years,BUT… Vampire: The Masquerade
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Kids Today Really Are different
Digital Natives (-)
Tech Savvyyet
Still Naive
Producers, not just Consumers
Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
Nomad Soul
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Kids TodayAre different
What do we do about it?
HELP THEM?Prepare them?Cure them?
We need to consider whether we are educating children for their futures or our pasts.
Geoff Southworth 2002
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
We’ve come a long way, right?
“Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening...The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role."
- William Harris, U.S. Commissioner of Education, 1889
Vocational training is the training of animals or slaves. It fits them to become cogs in the industrial machine. Free men need liberal education to prepare them to
make a good use of their freedom. -John Dewey, 1916
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Importance of play (it makes us human)
Games:Require joint attentionImitation games precede language
development in childrenMimetic games form culture…
2500 BCEhttp://www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/wxk116/romeball.html
Knucklebones 3-400 BC http://www.attalus.org/info/howto.html
Defn: Mimesis: intentional non-linguistic
representational or imitative acts [Janet Murray]
Progress of hominid cognition // progress of game forms
- Merlin Donald
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Michael Tomasello
Ur ~3000 BC
Senet ~3000 BC
Games are media of
interpersonal communication
Marshall McLuhan
Culture ratchets cognition
– our brains and our culture co-evolve.
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Games are Natural Instructional Technologies
As old as mankind.
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Making the Case for New
Ways
EverQuestl
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
New Methods for “New” Ways
“The invention of new methods that are adequate to the new ways
in which problems are posed requires far more than a simple modification
of previously accepted methods." Vygotsky
(-)
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
New Ways (again)
Everything old is new again
Apprenticeship (PBL, case-based…)OLD
OLD?
New
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
New Ways (again)
Everything old is new again
Experiential Learning
One learns by doing a thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.
- Sophocles Never Winter Nights
Harvest Moon
OLD
New
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
New Ways (again)
Everything old is new again
Story-telling
OLD
New
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
New Ways (again)
Everything old is new again
Visual CultureOLD
New
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
If Everything New is Old,Then WHAT, if anything
HAS Changed ?
Media -> Digital Games = New Method(this is not just about getting kids to pay attention)
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
One View of Communication Media through
HistoryPerforming Arts
Story-Telling
Broadcast Radio
Cinema
Television
Multimedia
Passive: watch,
listen, read
Active / Interactive:
Do, Act, Contribute
Print Media
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
"Technology is anything that wasn't around when you were
born.
20’s-30’s: radio, telephone
40’s-50’s: television60’s-70’s:
computers, cell phones
80’s: games, internet, ipods
90’s: nothing (!!!)
texting, blogging, wiki’s, open source, FaceBook, YouTube,MySpace, RSS, preferences (& customization, see D.Norman), augmented reality games, machinima
Alan Kay
What is technology for you?When were you born....
SecondLife
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Gamers.....Gamers are:
- mostly under 18 years- primarily male
Most popular games are:- violent twitch games
RIGHT????
Data source: http://www.theesa.com/archives/files/Essential%20Facts%202006.pdf
XIII
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Gamers.....
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Average age of Gamer: 33# of US homes that have game
consoles: 45 million (~half)
Gamers are:31.0% under 18 years44.0% 18–49 years25.0% 50+ years
85% of all games sold in 2005 were rated "E" for Everyone, "T" for Teen, or "E10+" for Everyone 10+.
WOMEN age 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (30%) than boys age 17 or younger (23%).
38% of gamers are women.
http://www.theesa.com/archives/files/Essential%20Facts%202006.pdf
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
What Gamers Do….
WHAT ELSE ARE GAMERS DOING?Gamers devote more than triple the amount of time spent
playing games each week to exercising or playing sports, volunteering in the community, religious activities, creative endeavors, cultural activities, and reading.
In total, gamers spend 23.4 hours per week on these activities, compared to 6.8 hours per week playing games.
79% of game players of all ages report exercising or playing sports an average of 20 hours a month.
93% of game players also report reading books or daily newspapers on a regular basis, while 62% consistently attend cultural events, such as concerts, museums, or the theater.
Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, 2004
51% of all gamers play games in-person with other players at least one hour a week, and a quarter (25%) of gamers play games with others online for at least an hour per week.
http://www.theesa.com/archives/files/Essential%20Facts%202006.pdf
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Games (and
learning)
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Digital GamesMore than a simple modification of
previously accepted methods…
Now what?Tomb Raider
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Digital Games
If we are to take advantage of the medium, we must
Look at HOW…
Look at exemplars:“Old Media”New Media
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
The Masters (and learning from them)
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Why are these Why are these such good such good teachers?teachers?Amos’n’Andy
The West Wing
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Are Games Good Are Games Good Teachers Too?Teachers Too?
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Figuring it out:To find out how games should teach, first look
at how games do teach.
Place in familiar context:Learning & Instructional Theories
Find contact points.Gagné / Reigeluth / Merrill / Bruner/ JonassenKolb / Keirsey / Gregorc / FelderActivity Theory/ Problem-Based Learning
(This work has been done)
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Games and Pedagogy
Premise: Games already incorporate sound pedagogy – even if it was not deliberate.
Test: Can we superimpose accepted learning and instructional theories on existing games?
Grim Fandango
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Answer:
Yes, if they are good games.
An example…
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
How Do Games How Do Games Teach?Teach? Learning Theories
BackStory
Boss Challenges
Levels
H.U.D.Heads Up Display
Cut-Scenes
Attract Mode
N.P.C.Non-PlayableCharacters
A.I.Artificial
Intelligence
P.O.V. /PerspectivePoint of View
Variable L.O.D.
Level of Detail
SandboxMode
StoryMode
Transmediality
Gagné’s Nine Events
Trailers
Valorization
Fan Sites & Game
Communities
Each of these elements can be seen as a tool that facilitates learning.
1. Gaining Attention (Reception)
2. Informing Learners of the Objective (Expectancy)
3. Stimulating Recall of Prior Learning (Retrieval)4. Presenting the
Stimulus (Selective Perception)
5. Providing Learning Guidance (Semantic Encoding)
6. Eliciting Performance (Responding)
7. Providing Feedback (Reinforcement)
8. Assessing Performance (Retrieval)
9. Enhancing Retention and Transfer (Generalization) Tutorial
Mode
Click to progress through events
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
All good games incorporate:
Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction (-)Engagement – Solving realistic (real-life) problems Activation – Start Where the player/learner is.Demonstration – Show them what we want them
to learn – don’t just tell them.Application – New knowledge must be applied to
solve problems.Integration – Motivate to apply what was learned
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Games for Change (-)ScienceHealth (-)LearningTrainingInterfaceWorkVisualizationDefenseCollective IntelligenceEtc.
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Food Force
http://www.food-force.com/
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Food Force
http://www.food-force.com/
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Making History
http://www.making-history.com/
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Making History
http://www.making-history.com/
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
A FORCE MORE POWERFULThe Game of NONVIOLENT Strategy
The game’s producers enlisted the help of veterans of recent nonviolent campaigns, including Ivan Marovic of Otpor, the Serbian resistance group that played a critical role in ousting Slobodan Milosevic.
“We wanted to create a game that is not only interesting and fun to play, but one that replicates the real world,” said Marovic. “The game emphasizes and rewards planning and calculated decision-making. Ultimately, by teaching strategic skills that are applicable to a variety of scenarios the game teaches individuals how to think about their own situation.”
http://www.aforcemorepowerful.org/game/index.php
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Re-MissionOur mission is to "combine the highest standards of
scientific research with innovative solutions to improve the health and quality of life for young people with chronic illness."
http://www.hopelab.org/ http://www.re-mission.net/
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Games for HealthPain DistractionPhobia ManagementPre-Op CalmingSurgical Training
Chronic Illness Management / Education (like Diabetes)
http://www.interactivemediainstitute.com/index_conf.html
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
http://www.hungryredplanet.com/academic/acaov.html
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Virtual Leaderhttp://www.simulearn.net/leadershiptraining.htm l
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Thanks!!Game Images courtesy of:Official Game Sites (images are identified by game)Fan ArtMobygames.comGamespot.comIGN.com
Further Resources Available at:Serious Games Pathfinder: http://www.minkhollow.ca/KB/PF/index.html Katrin’s Thesis: http://www.minkhollow.ca/KB/PhD/Thesis07/doku.php?
id=thesis:mainKatrin’s Website: http://www.minkhollow.ca/KB
K.Becker Why Games General Learning from Games
Games:Black & White: http://www.lionhead.com/bw/Civilization III: http://www.civ3.com/ Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: http://www.elderscrolls.com/games/oblivion_overview.htm Everquest: http://everquest.station.sony.com/ Final Fantasy XII: http://www.finalfantasyxii.com/ Grim Fandango: http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/grim-fandango Harvets Moon: http://www.natsume.com/currentgames_frameset.html Harry Potter: http://harrypotter.ea.com/ Legend of Zelda: http://www.zelda.com/universe/ Lineage II: http://www.lineage2.com/ Myst: http://www.mystworlds.com/us/ Neverwinter Nights: http://nwn.bioware.com/ Nomad Soul: http://www.quanticdream.com/#omikron Nox: http://www.mobygames.com/game/nox Railroad Tycoon: http://www.2kgames.com/railroads/railroads.html Real Lives: http://www.educationalsimulations.com/products.html Riven: http://www.mobygames.com/game/riven-the-sequel-to-myst RollerCoaster Tycoon: http://www.atari.com/rollercoastertycoon/ Second Life: http://www.secondlife.com/ Shadow of the Colossus: http://www.us.playstation.com/PS2/Games/Shadow_of_the_Colossus/OGS/ Spore: http://www.spore.com/ Syberia: http://www.theadventurecompanygames.com/syberia/index.html Tomb Raider: http://www.tombraider.com/ Turok: http://www.turok.com/ Vampire: The Masquerade: http://www.white-wolf.com/Games/Pages/VampireHome.html Wik and the Fable of Souls: http://www.wikgame.com/ World of Warcraft: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.xml XIII: http://www.xiii-thegame.com/uk/home.php