Challenge: Facing it or running away?

I was chatting with my colleague Yatin, when he jokingly told me 'Well, you don't seem to like the challenge then.' I always thought myself as a person who enjoyed challenges. I hate mechanical, dry, boring, work. I have to have to use my head, else my heart is not in it. And, I cannot work if my heart is not in it. So, then why did I not like that particular challenge?

I like a challenge, when:
1. I can see the light at the end of tunnel. I know that there is a way out. Like in games, when you know that you just have to keep planning your attack and finally you will get past to the next level.

2. I am confident that I have what it takes. Let us face it. We are good at certain things and not so good at others. It is ok to accept that there are things that I do bad. What can I do about this? Think about how I can improve. Read more about it. Talk to people who are good at it. If it is not worth investing time in, I check whether someone else can help me do this while I focus on doing what I am really good at.

3. I have all the resources that I need. I have everything I need to tackle this challenge. Or I know where I can find these resources. If I don't have the resources, the challenge is impossible to meet. Brings me to the next point...

4. The challenge is truly attainable. Don't you just hate challenges that you can do nothing about it. Like a dead end in a game or an impossible opponet who refuses to die. As a gamer, I prefer to give up my life and redo things better. But the challenge has to be attainable, else I give it.

5. The possibility of an 'epic win'. I have to know that I am close to an epic win. That I can crack this case. That I am soooo close that it will be stupid to give up. That I am on the verge of something great.
6. I have the time and luxury to sort things out. Conquering a challenge requires clarity of thought. Therefore, I need time to figure things out. I need to sort things out in my head before I attempt to try my hand at this challenge.

Have you ever given up a game because it was just too frustrating to continue? Have you felt so disappointed with loosing that you never try again? So, I think there are challenges and there are challenges. Some of them excite you and some of them scare you off. Some of them make you want to give it your best, while others make you want to quit. I think these are really useful when we design online training also. We use challenges to engage the learner, but this will fall flat if we don't:
1. Make the challenges attainable.
2. Show them light at the end of the tunnel.
3. Reward them for right choices.
4. Create situations where epic wins are possible.
5. Provide necessary information to make the right decision.
6. Give sufficient time to figure things out.

Nintendo: A Tool to Teach

A high school in Tokyo has introduced a Nintendo DS to teach English to seventh graders. The students are asked to spell out words using a plastic pen. When they get the spelling right, 'good' pops up as feedback. The children are enjoying this new method of studying. But is this because it novel or different from the norm or because it is effective? Only time will tell... But it is interesting to note that people are now trying to find innovative ways to teach. Sometimes, just one method of teaching is not sufficient to reinforce concepts taught. A combination of several learning methods must be used to ensure learning happens.

This article, Gaming and learning, with tool for young, was posted in Hindu this morning.

Games & elearning

The typical mindset about using design game elements in elearning is “We don’t have that kind of budget!” But really, are we trying to design a Grand Theft Auto or Need for Speed? You can design game elements in a modest budget. How you ask? Focus on the game elements that you can use in your elearning application. Simplify these elements to ensure that they fit your budget.

Which game elements can you use in your elearning application?

• Rewards and punishments
  
• Sub goals to attain the main goal
  
• Learner control
• Decision making
• Experiential learning
• Feel good factors (motivation and encouragement)
  
• Challenges
• Storyline or theme
• Interesting environment
• Highly visual impact
• Decision trees or branching stories
• Innovative navigation
• Thrill and adrenaline surge
  

There are certain game elements that hinder learning. Beware of these:

• Time based challenges
• Exploratory approach
  
• Abrupt end to the game if challenge is not achieved
  
• Feedback has to be construed by the player
  
• Complicated interface or rules that need to be learned first
• Challenging tasks that you take days to get past

Several research indicate that today most learners are vivid gamers. We as learning professional can use this to our advantage. Remember though that game-based approach is only another approach and not necessarily the only approach. This approach should be used depending on the learner's profile and the bloom's levels.