Games and self-directed learning
Posted by Jacque on April 24th, 2007
Can games be used to make self-directed learning more fun while adding value to the educational experience? Online Learning News & Reviews asked the question and reports several responses.
For fairly dry subject matter, Susie Kjell and team created a puzzle into which learners had to fit component features of an ATM. “It was fun and fairly easy to do and it worked as a great review of the components of the ATM.”
They also made an assessment into a crossword puzzle in which learners had to figure out the answer to the clue and then put it in the puzzle grid. To create the game, her team used ToolBook Instructor 7 from SumTotal Systems Inc. in Mountain View, Calif., which Kjell says worked well.
I think either puzzle technique (and others) might be effectively used in teaching information and/or computer literacy. Of course, the type of software or course management system you are using would make a difference, and it also requires extra creative thinking and effort. Have any readers successfully used gaming in their instructional design?
Photo by chewywong.
