Define Games
How would you define games? Is not having a firm definition of games a disadvantage for instructors? Explain why or why not.
I wouldn't say that not having a definition of games is good as much as I would say that being open to new types of games is good. Some of the types of games that are immensely popular right now, like "farming" games on mobile devices, simply did not exist a few years ago.
Ron,
Good thought Ron. Sometimes technology changes so quickly that it is difficult to have a definition that encompasses all the aspects of gaming. Being open to new types of games and not getting caught up in the definition is a perfect response to this discussion.
Dr. Karen Drage
I would define 'games' as any activity involving competitive interaction. Within this context one might presume that competition is irrelevant. The erroneous presumption might be that that the "competition" is intended to be interpersonal among students when it is in fact intended to be, at least in my mind, intrapersonal; the student should be encouraged to compete against themselves first since we all learn at different rates and in different ways. I think that when students are assessing themselves they become discouraged when they don't seem to "get it" as quickly as other students.
We should use "game" and "simulation" interchangeably with more focus on the latter when we discuss its application to the learning model. The lack of a definition is a disadvantage to the entire concept since some administrators or instructors may 'shutdown' and dismiss the entire concept based solely on the fact that it was introduced as a "game."
Cameron,
Excellent post. As an instructor/trainer, it is important to assess the level of competition in a game. As you stated, if the student finds it impossible to compete at the level of the other students, he/she may not be motivated to continue. The goal of instruction is to achieve the objectives and students cannot achieve the objectives if they are frustrated and quit.
Dr. Karen Drage
Having a background in game development I find having an open definition of what a game is always a positive. We all know games are very subjective and with that being said this allows games as a art form and a narrative form and even in our discussion here a educational form the ability to adapt and be what ever it need to be.
