In other words, it means taking the best lessons from games like FarmVille, World of Warcraft and Angry Birds, and applying them in everyday business and education.
Whether targeted at customers or employees, or across industries as diverse as technology, health care, education, consumer products, entertainment and travel, gamification’s impact can already be felt. Gartner Inc, who delivers technology research to global technology business leaders to make informed decisions on key initiatives; estimates that by 2015, 70% of the Forbes Global 2000 will be using gamified apps, and M2 Research forecasts that U.S. companies alone will spend $1.6 billion on gamification products and services by that same year.Jane McGonigal was a speaker at the February 2010 TED event. Jane directs game R&D at the Institute for the Future, a non-profit forecasting firm. She developed Superstruct, a multiplayer game in which players organise society to solve issues that will confront the world in 2019. Her philosophy is –
“Instead of providing gamers with better and more immersive alternatives to reality, I want all of us to become responsible for providing the world with a better and more immersive reality.”
In her TED talk, she makes a case for harnessing the power of gaming to solve real-world problems.
Another TED speaker, John Hunter, shares how his World Peace Game engages his 4th graders through complex problem solving and deep engagement. . .
When talking about Game Design Fundamentals, Seymour Papert, (Computer Criticism vs.Technocentric Thinking) said,
“The computer is a medium of human expression and if it has not yet had its Shakespeare’s, its Michelangelo’s or its Einstein’s, it will. ...
We have scarcely begun to grasp its human and social implications.”
There are obvious reasons for the interest in using gaming to support learning. The human mind does not follow rules; it isn’t a calculator. It learns from experience and we know that well-designed learning experiences are very effective. A well-designed learning experience motivates, has clear goals, provides copious and immediate feedback, manages attention, provides practice, and has opportunities for debriefing and reflection. Some features in games that make them an excellent partner in games for learning.
As games are designed in totality, they are well-designed and complete learning experiences. AND they are social and fun! Talking of fun, ‘Game to Learn’, a primary school and child learning resource combining fun games with education, does just that.
All content on ‘Game to Learn’ has been carefully selected by education specialists, parents and teachers to ensure that is safe, fun, engaging and appropriate for children of all learning stages.‘Game to Learn’ has a lot of visual stimulation, colourful graphics, and sounds, and the children can use the website on their own – encouraging independent learning and discovery.
When using ‘Game to Learn’, children will
- Learn valuable computer skills
- Improve their typing, spelling, keyboard and mouse control
- Problem solve
- Express themselves by customising their own online character that matches how they would like to be seen
- Communicate with friends in a safe environment, which is interactive and allows them to learn at their own pace.
And all while playing fun educational games!
The website will be fully operational in 2012, but in the meantime you can visit the website at http://www.gametolearn.net or ‘Like’ the Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/gametolearn
And make your start in the future of learning!
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