Game-based learning

Quite often, when I listen to presentations on game-based learning, it is touted as the magical and potent solution for learning innovation. I have never actually question this perception before until I started playing RPG games on Facebook. These games have a tendency to encourage you to gather and link up with other users of Facebook (most likely for the financial gains of the developers) to accomplish the missions or quests. I do not complain about this because I always keep the games from taking anything out of my pocket. ;-) I also like the idea of having a common interest which I can share with peoples from different countries and background. It's kind of like a virtual United Nations.

What I notice from the nature of the gamers is they have different tendencies and methods to solve any gaming tasks or issues they face. These methods and solutions are not much different from what we do when we learn or study for a course as a student. Some are generous and share in detail what they have learned to the point of preparing extensive manual guides to all other gamers. On the opposite end of the spectrum will be those who are quick to start a totally new forum just to get quick answers without even bothering to check whether the questions raised have already been answered by others in earlier forums. Therefore, the knowledge base generated for the benefit of all is not utilized. There are those like me who would take the time to look through the forums to check for possible answers and contribute in meagre ways what we know to the general audience and feeling satisfied and happy when we are given a praise or two.

On how the game is played, some will actually study the details and do the mathematics simply for the fun of learning about the game. These are usually the ones who would also be eager to share what they have learned. On the opposite, some are in it just for the rush of the moment, to complete all the missions and get the emotional high out of it. Knowledge about the game is not important, only the fun element is essential. Of course, sandwiched in between the two opposite ends would be the in betweens like me and many others.

This observation gives me an anecdotal conclusion that despite what is often said about game-based learning, the games do not actually dictate how the gamers will respond. The characteristics and tendencies of the gamers still play a large role on how they will learn from the process. Not doubt, gaming will enhance positive elements of learning but it can also do the same for the negatives. Getting the right mix and hoping for a correct response from the learners will still be an elusive solution that most of us in the educational field hope to achieve.

Resistance against new Facebook?

I am actually quite surprised by the negative reaction from a substantial group of people judging from the number of groups set up just to protest about the Facebook layout and features. Personally I find the new layout extremely practical and easy to use e.g. the ability to make comments to updates as you see it on your wall or in the news. I thought this is really a very quick and good way to directly communicate with the person who has just updated and posted something.

I love the new wall so much until I could no longer remember how the old wall looks like. It allows me to do sending, writing and sharing quickly and efficiently. It tempts me to rethink again why I need to keep my own blogs in another place when the wall itself can function as an effective replacement to my blogs. Writing this note itself feels like I am blogging already. I could easily syndicate feeds from my existing blogs and display them in this area. To me it is really great. The tabs are great too, both at the profile and home page. The location of bookmarks on the right side of the hompage personally works better for me than the old one. And the ease to configure my settings for each application is also great. The applications drop down menu has its strength and weaknesses but overall it works well with me.

So this brings me to think what could be the reason for so many Facebook addicts rejecting the new layout and features. I am contemplating one reason in particular. I am relatively new to Facebook which makes me less difficult to unlearn all the things which one would have picked up after using the old Facebook for sometime. Sometimes what we have learned can be so ingrained in us that we could find it very difficult and uncomfortable when asked to change, especially when we can have no say in the situation or decision making. Could this be the reason? It could be one of the many reasons I guess.

Application shortcuts on Google Chrome

I continue to marvel and find the application shortcuts provided by Google Chrome very useful not just because of its looks and feel (although that plays a big part as well), but its loading speed which allows you to quickly work on the website or web service as if it is just another desktop application (take a look at the quick launch shortcuts screenshot below). Perhaps there is some truth in saying that the browser has now indeed become the operating system.

Cuil's failure to search out Google Chrome

I am utterly shocked that the much touted Cuil search engine could not find entries on the launch of Google Chrome. If this is deliberate, then it is sad. If not, that it has failed my test. 

First impression of Google Chrome

Things I like:

• lightness
• speed of loading and rendering
• Apple-like feel
• browser acting like an application especially when you create application shortcuts (it really does feel and look like an application instead of being in a browser environment and unless my mind deceives me, it loads faster in such a mode than in a normal Chrome mode)
• creating application shortcuts on desktops etc.
• larger viewing space
• history shown in thumbnails
• task manager and stats 
• nice looking Javascript console
• bookmarks as you type at the address bar much like FireFox 3

Things I don't like:

• I miss my Google toolbar, bookmarks, etc
• It actually detects security issues with GMail!
• Some scripts (especially in Facebook which can become quite annoying) and plugins do not work (Quicktime is an example)
• no RSS support .. albeit at the moment
• not being able to use some cool addons in FF i.e. Shareaholics etc. takes valuable points from otherwise a pretty cool browser
• unable to import my vast collection of bookmarks from my Google account
• unable to move backwards and forwards to a few level deep

I will try out a bit more and log down after a night's sleep.

Screenshots

Short note on assessment

I was pondering over the concept of assessment for the last two days. The usual scenario when I was still lecturing was I would try to create final assessment which contained 'difficult and tricky' questions to determine whether the students are prepared to provide answers for something which they not learned directly from the classes. Now, since I am no longer teaching, I have the chance to rethink about this. Based on the literature that I have been reading, the question asked is "Is assessment meant to test what the students know or what they do not know?" I relate this to the purpose of learning or education. If learning is the focus of education, then we should be setting assessment that would test what the student have learned and not what they have not learned. Perhaps this is the reason why we are getting the so-called 'bell curve' for so many years. By doing so, we could actually be discriminating or excluding some students who might otherwise be perfectly all right to perform different vocations as adults in the employment market. Perhaps a better form of assessment would be projects and assignments compared to examinations. With the advent of e-portfolios, I think this can be a better choice.

Potential of Web 2.0 and Human Behaviour

While playing a highly addictive game in Facebook, it confirms what I have thinking about the potentials of Web 2.0 applications. I think this new generation of applications basically satisfy the needs of human beings to share our stories (satisfying a powerful need to create meanings in our lives which give us our identities as a person), to connect with others with our stories (thus forming a community that fills the void in us to belong) and to learn and grow from these activities which again fulfills our strongest desire to find meanings in our lives and grow as a human being. When technology is able to meet the core necessities and desire of the human pysche, it will mushroom beyond the designers' wildest dreams. If only education caters for such needs!