How Games Can Influence Learning

This is an excerpt from a MindShift post of the same title: "How Games Can Influence Learning" 
October 14, 2011 | 12:57 PM | By Tina Barseghian

“Maybe the question we need to ask is: what about games causes youth to engage that our traditional approach to education lacks,” says Brian Alspach, Executive Vice President of E-Line Media, an educational games publisher well known for their game Gamestar Mechanic. “Perhaps applying games to classes is hard because they work on a different educational philosophy than our current education system. Classes are designed to get the lowest common denominator engaged, while games are an interactive, ‘lean-forward’ medium in which players can progress at their own pace while trying and failing in a safe environment. A well-designed game offers an intricate balance of challenges and rewards that continually pushes players to, and then beyond, the limits of their knowledge and skill.”

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/10/how-games-can-influence-learning/

 

About MindShift

Technology is revolutionizing the world of education – replacing familiar classroom tools and changing the way we learn. MindShift explores the future of learning in all its dimensions – covering cultural and technology trends, groundbreaking research, education policy and more. The site is curated by Tina Barseghian, a journalist and mother of a grade-schooler.

Check this out!   I'd love to talk about it!

My Thoughts on a TED Talk by Benjanim Zander

This TED talk By Benjamin Zander holds such an important message for teachers as we hold a right attitude to create the proper environment for our students. It resonates with the Path to Potential (P2P) program I've worked on with a friend for the past 10 years.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng//id/286 

(You'll have to click to view; sorry not able to embed it here)

He makes a few points at the end that really resonate with me when he states, "My job is to awaken possibility in other people," and realizes, like teachers, he as the conductor of the orchestra, has power to make other people powerful.  That he asks himself, "Who am I being that the eyes of my students are not shining?" Because success to him is defined by the number of shining eyes around him. I also found the last story he told to be powerful. I'd like to join him in his quest to "Never say anything that couldn't stand as the last thing I'll ever say."