Games + Learning = MicroLearning
Something more that may fall in the category of microlearning… The New York Times has a recent blurb about how the test resource company Kaplan is providing SAT games for iPods. They also have a Myspace website (http://www.myspace.com/kaplan) with links to the games and including links to SAT vocabulary building manga (Japanese style comics). This is the very idea of microlearning, providing little bits of knowledge from games and embedding learning in pleasure reading. Typically these things comics/manga, cellphone/iPod games, and the like are devalued as frivolous time-wasters. I know I learned a lot from reading comics as a kid. I remember my mom was worried about my comic book reading but my teacher said as long as he is reading, he is learning. Indeed I was, I learned words like nefarious, uncanny, and shazam!
In the same vein, Wired has an article about the online game FatWorld which has players navigate through diabetes, food allergies, heart disease and death or as the game likes to call it “the politics of nutrition”. Fatworld is part of Persuasive Games a company that designs games for “persuasion, instruction, and activism.” Other games available include Points of Entry (a game about immigration), Stone City (a game to instruct Cold Stone Creamery workers), Elemental (a game that teaches chemistry), Take Back Illinois (a game about the Illinois election), among other weirdly informative titles. These games all seem like neat ways to get a point across, raise awareness, jumpstart the learning process and critical thinking, or all these things at once.
Again, I wonder if this idea of microlearning (games, etc.) is something libraries can tap into somehow? Or will libraries be forced to tap into it because this what users want/expect? Maybe libraries will begin to provide more gaming stations like the Ada Community Library that have brain games or trivia? Or perhaps our library computers will become chock full of games that have learning outcomes? I still think putting small games about LC/Dewey order or a random question quiz about library terminology would be an easy first step that would not only be fun but informative for our patrons.
More info:
New York Times Article: Prepare for the SAT Test, or Play With Your iPod? Have It Both Ways (published 6/25/07) http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/technology/25kaplan.html
Wired article:Welcome to Fatworld! Experience Refreshing Moral Discomfort!http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/15-07/pl_games
Persuasive Games: http://www.persuasivegames.com/
Tags: games, microlearning
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