Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the brain →
I didn’t embed the video because I didn’t actually find it must-watch, though it’s not bad. I did enjoy the metaphor of WoW, and other games, just being one huge game of opening boxes all the time, looking for pies.
Part of me is more interested in the comments generated on this video, which are pretty polarized. Half of the people are in agreement of the need to utilize game mechanics to motivate students, whereas the other half are of the “are you crazy, we shouldn’t be manipulating people’s brains like this” camp.
(Part of me is a little depressed by the direction TED is taking. when they were still small and localized, they always had really interesting videos and it was less about what the community was taking away and more about personal introspection. now that they’ve gone global and full-out social, you can see how their discussions are sometimes going the YouTube route. oh well.)
On my part, I tend towards the belief that we should be harnessing video game mechanics to encourage exploration into topics that are difficult for students to start approaching. I can understand having a certain trepidation of the potential of “overlord manipulation”, but I am not sure I see I significant difference in this from parents who force their young children to take up a sport, a musical instrument, gymnastics, chess club, etc., knowing that the kid “will appreciate it later”.
Despite the fact that this may or may not be a questionable practice in itself, everyone must agree that children are not always (or maybe ever) totally understanding of the skills they are going to need later in life and that adults are responsible for guiding them around. Of course we want to inspire them into self-motivation, but if plopping them in front of a keyboard or lecturing them with diagrams isn’t going to cut it, then it is up to us to keep pushing the issue.
And for those who think it’s “fine” for children, but not for full-time working adults… please. I’m twenty-six years old and I STILL say “when I grow up” out of reflex. We’re all children, especially when faced with an unknown. If someone can give me a game to ease me into the process of finding a job (finally) or buying a house, freaking give it to me!
