Christopher D. Sessums :: Blog :: Games, Learning, & Calvin & Hobbes

"It's only work if somebody makes you do it."

I found this quote while eating breakfast this morning. My local paper is running old Calvin and Hobbes comics which generally brightens my day.

This quote triggered my mind as it relates to teaching and learning on a number of levels.

David Wiley recently talked about Gagne, Games, and Learning on his weblog. His question "what type (or types) of learning are best promoted by game-like instructional conditions?" made me think about Calvin's quote.

Wiley goes on to suggest:

when students are learning about complex systems, games are a great condition under which to learn.

Can't say I agree with him more.

Ask a child if they want to play a game or play a lesson, and see how they respond. Culturally, playing a game connotes fun, unless you've lived under the tyranny of an older sibling....

I also belive there is a certain connotation behind the word play that is not associated with learning in the traditional sense.

I'm not suggesting that learning should be easy or effortless; but couching it in terms of play, of exploration, of activity, seems to tip the scales towards learning as interesting as opposed to abject.

Wiley provides a facile argument in terms of the design considerations one must consider when designing a learning game which I encourage you to consider.

Otherwise, you might risk "making" learners, rather than piquing their natural curiosity.