Good Play Equals Good Learning
Are games a good way to learn? Yes, as long as we respect what it is about games that makes them fun, says Scott Traylor. Traylor is the CEO of 360KID, which develops digital content for children, and he is quoted in an article by Frank Catalano on the education blog MindShift:
“’You, as the user, are intrinsically interested in the play experience. If you are engaged at that level, all games have the potential to teach,’ notes Traylor. ‘Good play equals good learning.
‘One example of where learning games tend to go wrong is when game developers apply an A-B-A-B approach to gaming. First you start off by offering some engaging gaming content (A), then you switch to some educational content you must get through in order to return to the game (B).
‘That’s the chocolate-and-broccoli approach to gaming. Successful learning games seamlessly integrate learning content into the gaming experience,’ he says.”
Traylor is concerned that educational games are becoming too popular for their own good: “As people race to develop learning games, only thoughtful and solid collaboration (between gamers and teachers) guided by good research, game development expertise and content expertise will succeed. Learning games could become the latest fad if the market becomes flooded with really bad learning games. That is something I worry about.” Read more here.
“Good play equals good learning”—words for every teacher and parent to take to heart. Great job by both Scott and Frank in bringing us this insight.
Thanks Annie for sharing my thoughts with so many people. I’m very appreciative of Frank Catalano’s shouting the news from his piece too!