Sunday, 18 March 2007

Learning through play

Of course we've always learnt through playing games, from children playing counting games to adults with simulations. There is also the ongoing argument that children spend far too long in front of PCs when they should be "playing out". This weekend Calum was with me so we did some boys' stuff (can't tell you the details but other boys will know! :-))

He showed me this online game. Now give it a go and look at the way it is coded first - this level of complexity and interaction would have been unknown until very recently but now it's given away as part of a game. Look then at the strategies needed to complete the game, at least one appears counter-intuitive, and consider how much children can actually learn from these games.

I'm not suggesting that children shouldn't play outside or that spending all their free time in solitary pursuits is wise but stuff like this is a good example of some of the "learning through play" that is happening and that those who don't get involved in what their children are doing at the PC might be missing. And this is a jolly good little game :-)

7 careful considerations:

bluefluff said...

I don't get it. I keep joining up the presents & nothing happens. So I click the "Play" green arrow & Santa falls through the snow. What's all that about then?

Nogbad said...

Try creating a track for Santa to slide along, bear in mind that he responds to gravity and needs some impetus to run uphill. On later levels there are rockets which give a little burst of power.

francessa said...

It's entirely your fault when I'm forgetting all about my duties and can't stop playing those great little games. Six levels so far :-)

Nogbad said...

Well done Francessa! I notice Bluefluff hasn't been back to tell us how far she's got! :-)

bluefluff said...

I got as far as the tunnel (5 levels?) before my hand-eye co-ordination ran out!

Tony Hirst said...

i came across this as www.linerider.com

I've been collecting similar sorts of games with gameplay that offers potentially quirky learning - or relaxation (?!) - opportunities at http://del.icio.us/psychemedia/online+game

- tony "OUseful" h.

Nogbad said...

Brilliant Tony - thanks! I love Desktop Defence