“Playing dumb”: an oxymoron?

Imagine beginning a job training and being forced to watch an instructional video covering some of the basics at your new workplace. Set aside the fact that these videos are usually corny or stodgy at best and laughably bad at worst: they aren’t supposed to be art, they’re supposed to make you smarter, more competent, and better prepared for your new responsibilities. Few people would look askance at this educational technique; it’s de rigeur.

So why then is the idea of playing a game as an educational tool controversial? You’re always learning something when you’re playing a game, and it’s seldom confined to the game world. This CNN article talks about the educational properties of playing games:

Critics often accuse video games of making players lazy, inept and socially awkward. Contrary to popular belief, though, many build, not burn brain cells by requiring extensive problem solving, teamwork and dynamic decision-making skills.

Then this proposed SXSW talk by Clinton Bonner explains how he wants to transform education:

The Common Thread in Games that Really Educate

• The students are drawn to and embrace competition 
• Project-Based education is hands-on and highly specific
• Mentors play a very key role in the learning process
• Collaboration is not only encouraged, it is imperative for success

If you like this post, perhaps you should vote for this talk at SXSW. You don’t have to, though. But I did.