Failure Playing Games Drives Learning
Friday, January 25th, 2008My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump, or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging. - Hank Aaron
Learn to laugh at yourself when you fail. Why? Because when you can view your failure with laughter and humor, your lessons learned become more valuable. Take for example a great leader, Abraham Lincoln who learned from his failures.
- 1831 - Lost his job
- 1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature
- 1833 - Failed in business
- 1835 - Sweetheart died
- 1836 - Had nervous breakdown
- 1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
- 1843 - Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
- 1848 - Lost re-nomination
- 1849 - Rejected for land officer position
- 1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate
- 1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President
- 1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
Here is another example that most of us will relate to. When do you most consistently obey the speed limits when driving your car? Perhaps the day after and several days and weeks following the ticket you received from the nice policeman who informed you that you were breaking the law. It is through this failure and its consequence(s), such as the embarrassment of a few friends driving by seeing you being ticketed, that you learned how to obey the law.
This is what makes games so perfect for learning. The game provides the rules you are to follow in a specific environment or theme as you navigate through scenarios and questions, stumbling or failing as you go. It’s fun, and the consequences of your failure can be enduring enough to push learning to a new level. The challenge and excitement of seeing the end in sight, knowing you can conquer this game and win, drives the brain to a level of stretching that you actually are happy to obtain. The game also brings forth a competitive spirit from within whether playing against the computer, collecting points or tokens, or playing against others. Together you can laugh at the consequences of a wrong move – especially because of the randomness of game play. There is no other place in the world where you can make difficult and life-threatening decisions,and still come out alive, than playing a learning game.
Some people call them learning games, interactive learning games, casual games, serious games, etc. But no matter what you call them, games are indeed the future of learning. Use games to help drive your learning.
You live, you learn,You love, you learn,You play, you learn,You lose, you learn.
If you win, you’re the winner!
Barbara Sealund January 25, 2007
I’m eager to hear your thoughts. If I failed, I’ll learn. J
Serious Games = Serious Learning!™
For more information about Sealund’s Serious Games, please visit our website at www.sealund.com