Playful design, the blending of serious educational games
(SEGs) with immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, is
becoming the next big thing in higher education. Playful design works because people
like to play games and games make learning fun, according to David Chandross,
professor of education, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
“Serious games work by practicing skills and tracking
achievement, but also by giving learning an addictive quality,” he wrote in an article for The Conversation. “The ‘one more move’ thinking that keeps video gamers up
all night is harnessed for learning.”
Chandross noted peer-reviewed studies show SEGs encourage
students to use what they learn while playing, engage them better than most
lectures, and reward learners for their achievements. It’s a form of active learning that helps students
succeed.
“We
learn a lot when we love what we are learning,” Chandross said. “It’s a basic
trademark of achievement in higher education. Human beings love doing certain things,
and learning to become a master of their own world, however fantastical it
might be, is one of them.”
