Gaming Benefits
Power to
motivate
Tom
Chatfield tells us in his TED talk, 7
ways games reward the brain, about the power to motivate that games
have over us. Through incremental rewards for incremental goals, gamers
progress to the next goal and their reward is intrinsic. Many of the readings and videos spoke to role
of the brain chemical dopamine. The motivation to persevere is the brain
seeking another surge of dopamine -- the fuel of intrinsic reinforcement (Willis, 2014) . I have heard from
doctors for many years of the powerful effects this drug has on the human body.
It is said that addictions in general have dopamine to thank for the desired or
undesired behavior that triggers the pleasure center of our brain. I recognized
the feeling the first time I engaged in Settlers Online and felt I had to keep
coming back to it.
Collaborative
Learning
The
interactive nature of games, both with the game itself and others we may be
joined with, is a reflection of real world situations in that, for us to
survive we must cooperate with others. My students always learned more in a
team environment than any other, and they enjoyed it more, too. The same is
true with the Settlers game, when I first began; there was no one to help
because I was in the wrong realm. I felt at a loss and struggled to solve my
problem. It was only with help of someone else that I was back on track.
Epic Win
The epic win
Jane McGonigal refers to in her TED
talk is a new term for me, however, the feeling is not nor is its associated
looks. Overcoming challenges has always been a human trait that I admired and
we have all felt it with or without games. The first time you rode your bike by
yourself, learning to read, ran a marathon; the list goes on and on. This look
is performed for us on televisions across the globe by way of sporting events
every day. I want to see that look on the faces of my students.
Quest Atlantis on the Learning Channel
Gaming in the classroom
Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better
world
Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the
brain
http://www.ted.com/talks/tom_chatfield_7_ways_games_reward_the_brain.html
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