How video games can level up the way you learn | Kris Alexander

Update: 2023-03-09

Digest

This podcast features a professor who advocates for the integration of video games into education. He recounts a personal experience where using a video game during a lecture sparked a discussion about alternative learning styles. He highlights how video games' multi-sensory approach (audio, visual, interactive elements) and clear objectives can enhance student engagement and motivation, combating cognitive overload by effectively integrating multiple learning channels. The professor discusses successful online instruction strategies, drawing parallels with engaging platforms like Twitch. He critiques the current state of post-secondary education, emphasizing the high cost and low job placement rates, and proposes that clearer, game-like objectives can better prepare students for the workforce. He also points out the growing interconnectedness between video games and various professions, showcasing the expanding opportunities in this field.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Power of Games in Education

A professor shares a pivotal experience using video games in a lecture, sparking a discussion on learning styles and the potential of games to enhance education. He argues that games' multi-sensory approach and clear objectives improve learning and motivation.

00:02:12

Effective Online Instruction through Gamification

The professor explores how video games' blend of audio, visual, and interactive elements can improve focus and motivation in online education, drawing examples from his own teaching experiences.

00:08:07

Redefining Education for the Modern Workforce

The professor critiques the current education system and proposes a game-inspired approach to setting clearer objectives and better preparing students for the workforce, highlighting the increasing relevance of video game skills across various professions.

Keywords

Gamification in Education

Integrating game-design elements into education to enhance engagement and motivation.

Online Instruction

Teaching and learning remotely using digital technologies.

Cognitive Overload

Mental fatigue from excessive information processing.

Multi-sensory Learning

Learning through multiple senses (audio, visual, interactive).

Educational Objectives

Clearly defined learning goals aligned with career paths.

Q&A

How can video games improve learning in the classroom?
Video games offer a multi-sensory learning experience enhancing focus and motivation through clear objectives and immediate feedback.
What are the challenges of online instruction, and how can they be addressed?
Maintaining student engagement is key; learning from platforms like Twitch, which utilize engaging presentation and interactive elements, can improve online learning.
How can educational objectives be improved to better prepare students for the workforce?
Educational objectives should be clear and specific, connecting academic learning to real-world applications and career paths.
What is the connection between video games and various professions?
Video game technologies and principles are increasingly integrated into diverse fields, highlighting the growing importance of video game skills.

Show Notes

Video games naturally tap into the way we learn: they focus our attention and track our progress as we head toward a clear goal. Kris Alexander, a professor of video game design and passionate gamer himself, thinks the same elements should be used in traditional education to cater to different learning styles and engage students across the world, both in-person and online.