Authentic Learning Authentic Learning Experiences Experiences Through Play:Through Play:Games, Simulations and the Games, Simulations and the Construction of KnowledgeConstruction of Knowledge

Lisa GalarneauLisa GalarneauPh.D. CandidatePh.D. Candidate

The University of Waikato, New The University of Waikato, New ZealandZealand

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Games can motivate Games can motivate learning…learning…

People cannot be ‘taught’. People cannot be ‘taught’. They must be motivated to They must be motivated to learn.learn.When learners need to When learners need to memorize information, making memorize information, making it fun might be key.it fun might be key.Younger generations are Younger generations are increasingly bored with linear increasingly bored with linear content.content.

……but motivation is not the but motivation is not the only thing games are good only thing games are good for!for!

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Is this the Is this the best use of best use of learning learning games?games?

– Game2Train’s – Game2Train’s Sexual Sexual Harassment Harassment Solitaire GameSolitaire Game

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

The ‘language’ The ‘language’ of games and of games and simulations…simulations…

New technologies are always first New technologies are always first imagined using old paradigms, and often imagined using old paradigms, and often stumble at first:stumble at first:

Cars: horseless carriagesCars: horseless carriages Telephones: good for ‘speakingTelephones: good for ‘speaking

telegrams’telegrams’ TV: see radio plays!TV: see radio plays! Movies: see stage plays from afar!Movies: see stage plays from afar! The Internet: online books, brochures or The Internet: online books, brochures or

paper (with hypertext!)paper (with hypertext!) e-Learning: online textbooks, lectures, e-Learning: online textbooks, lectures,

classroomsclassrooms Educational games: ‘chocolate-covered Educational games: ‘chocolate-covered

broccoli’broccoli’

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

The sweet spot for The sweet spot for games and simulations…games and simulations…

They are flexible environments They are flexible environments that allow for infinite possibilities that allow for infinite possibilities and points-of-view (‘going meta’)and points-of-view (‘going meta’)Allow learners to form Allow learners to form connections by experimenting connections by experimenting with knowledge in contextwith knowledge in contextLearners learn by doing, Learners learn by doing, discovery and through failurediscovery and through failureThey allow learning designers to They allow learning designers to foster authentic learning foster authentic learning experiencesexperiences

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

What is authentic What is authentic learning?learning?

learner-centeredlearner-centered

active learningactive learning

authentic tasks in authentic tasks in which the learning which the learning experience takes place experience takes place around real-world around real-world situationssituations

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Design Design experiences,experiences, not wrappers not wrappers around around traditional traditional contentcontent

Putting linear content Putting linear content into an open-ended into an open-ended game context is like game context is like shoving a round peg shoving a round peg into a square holeinto a square hole

Experience is the Experience is the story: one’s personal story: one’s personal narrative and the narrative and the emotions that go with itemotions that go with it

Knowledge in context Knowledge in context through experiencethrough experience

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

What if you What if you could change could change history? history?

What if you What if you are?are?

– MIT’s Revolution– MIT’s Revolution

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Situate learning Situate learning opportunities in opportunities in real world real world contexts.contexts.

– – SimSchool SimSchool

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Even low-Even low-tech tech methods methods can can simulate an simulate an experience.experience.

– – Magellan’s Magellan’s Understanding Understanding DiversityDiversity

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

How do people How do people really learn the really learn the nuances of nuances of success in success in business?business?

- Simulearn’s Virtual - Simulearn’s Virtual LeaderLeader

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Experience the Experience the human immune human immune system from the system from the perspective of a perspective of a virus virus

– MIT’s – MIT’s ReplicateReplicate

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Supplement Supplement theoretical theoretical knowledge with knowledge with real world real world practice.practice.

- - Calming & Restraint Calming & Restraint Training for Mental Training for Mental Health ProfessionalsHealth Professionals

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Legitimate Legitimate peripheral peripheral participation can participation can be valid be valid experience.experience.

- Building & Carpentry - Building & Carpentry SimulatorSimulator

Authentic Learning Experiences Through PlayAuthentic Learning Experiences Through Play DiGRADiGRA June 19, 2005June 19, 2005

Some final thoughts…Some final thoughts…

Learning is an active, not a passive, Learning is an active, not a passive, eexperiencexperienceAn effective learning opportunity must provide An effective learning opportunity must provide an an aauthentic experience, not simply informationuthentic experience, not simply informationExperience should be central and content Experience should be central and content peripheralperipheralKnowledge must be applied and skills practiced Knowledge must be applied and skills practiced using real world scenariosusing real world scenariosAllow learners to make content their own Allow learners to make content their own (construct their knowledge or narratives) (construct their knowledge or narratives) through experiencethrough experienceContext is key; more experience increases a Context is key; more experience increases a holistic viewholistic view