While the use of game dynamics in education may be already in use and I may already use influence and status within my class intentionally and unintentionally, I can’t help but cringe. On one hand I want my students to learn simply for the joy of learning and not for the purpose of geting a good grade, a nice comment on their reports, or a new toy. In other words I want them to be learn for intrinsic instead of extrinsic reasons. Is there a way to balance the use of game dynamics so that students develop an intrinsic love of learning and enjoy the extrinsic as a byproduct of that joy of learning, or is our culture on a path where everything must come with some sort of physical reward or point system and if it doesn’t, then it isn’t worth doing?
Credits
The Game Layer on Top of the World by Seth Preiebatsch, found on TED.com, uploaded by TEDxBoston 2010