Wednesday, July 13, 2005
eTeaching, eLearning, and Fun
In their feature story, the editors of eLearn magazine ask "What makes eLearning fun" - a wonderful, and sadly, rarely asked question.
The answers they found:
"Four dimensions emerged across the groups. The first could be characterized as rigidity vs. spontaneity. 'Fun' experiences were seen as the result of situations that were surprising, playful, and challenging. The second dimension concerned the communication mode. Unidirectional messages from 'teacher' to 'student' were perceived as undesirable. Interactivity was prized. The third dimension was related to the nature of the social experience provided. Working in isolation was felt to be 'not fun.' Working collaboratively was felt to be fun or engaging. The final dimension concerned the flexibility of the program. Fixed programs were seen as inferior to programs that contained user customizable features."
Yes, I know. This isn't new stuff at all. It's these very fundamental observations that have brought us here together in the first place. You're reading this weblog because you know that spontaneity is more fun than rigidity, interactivity more fun than lectures, learning together more fun than learning alone, flexibility more fun than rigidity. We know. And probably they know too. The real question is: why do we still have to ask?
The answers they found:
"Four dimensions emerged across the groups. The first could be characterized as rigidity vs. spontaneity. 'Fun' experiences were seen as the result of situations that were surprising, playful, and challenging. The second dimension concerned the communication mode. Unidirectional messages from 'teacher' to 'student' were perceived as undesirable. Interactivity was prized. The third dimension was related to the nature of the social experience provided. Working in isolation was felt to be 'not fun.' Working collaboratively was felt to be fun or engaging. The final dimension concerned the flexibility of the program. Fixed programs were seen as inferior to programs that contained user customizable features."
Yes, I know. This isn't new stuff at all. It's these very fundamental observations that have brought us here together in the first place. You're reading this weblog because you know that spontaneity is more fun than rigidity, interactivity more fun than lectures, learning together more fun than learning alone, flexibility more fun than rigidity. We know. And probably they know too. The real question is: why do we still have to ask?
Labels: playfulness
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