Game Learning Environments
Development of a game based learning environment requires
an understanding of learning theory, and an application of instructional
design theory. Learning theory is the study of how people learn.
Instructional Design Theory is the study of how to best design
instruction so that learning will take place. Instructional
design theory, then, is drawn from learning theory.
The two broad fields of instructional design theory are
directed instruction (instructional systems) and constructivist.
Directed instruction approaches are, in general, drawn from
behaviorist learning theory, while constructivist approaches
are drawn from cognitivist learning theory.
Within the context of Game Learning Environments, the constructivist
approach makes learning more relevant to students by imbedding
it in real, "authentic" situations, helps them learn to solve
problems, think critically, and learn how to learn. Emphasis
is on the process of learning, rather than searching for the
answer.
A game based constructivist design should (1) focus on learning
through posing problems, (2) be concerned with large goals
such as problem solving and learning skills, rather than specific
objectives, (3) stress group work such as cooperative learning,
and use alternative assessment methods, such as student portfolios,
performance evaluation, teacher observation, and open-ended
questions.
A constructivist, then, might choose to use such games as
the "Age of Empires" series, from which a student would be
expected to learn history and geography by using that content
to deal with environmental, social, or cultural development
problems.
Based on this, one might assign students a group project,
such as the development of a PowerPoint program on historic
conflicts and resource management issues, for presentation
to the rest of the class or others. That development would
require students, not only to learn to work together, but
to learn the necessary history, geography, and environmental
concerns to make the presentation effective.
Or, one might choose to use a computer to simulate a real
activity. Among the best known and most sophisticated of such
programs are flight simulators, but there are lots of others.
Sometimes they are better than the real thing, for a crash
in a flight simulator is much less drastic than a crash in
an airplane!
Regardless of which instruction design is chosen, the goal
of this web site is to supply up to date information about
current learning games research, appropriate game applications,
and suggestions for game projects and assessment.
|
