Gaming saves lives...no, wait...could this be an epic epiphany?! YIKES!

•  Can play and learning be combined?

   Now how crazy is that we can possibly even phanthom the thought of fun being associtated with learning? There can't be a way to make learning that interesting through "play". Well, I am one those people who truly believe the over used cliche' that learning is FUNdamental (more emphasis on the FUN)!

  Yes, of course! Yes play and learning can be combined. Playing is a part of growing up. Learning is a part of continued growth. The two together makes for a world where we learn things through a process that just makes sense. It makes sense to enjoy learning. People do better with things that they enjoy. Students are more engaged when they are having fun learning what is being taught to them. So yes, of course playing and learning can be combined. The absolutely wonderful part about the idea is that if it is done efficiently then students all over would never have to worry about learning again. Why? Because they can simply "play"! Well, that may be a bit over zealous but I really believe gaming for learning can and will revolutionize education.

• What role does acknowledging progress play in successful gaming and is their transfer to education?

  We are all human. Humans like praise. Humans like gratification. Humans like to feel fulfilled. And most of all humans like to be acknowledged. In a game, a gamer can feel all things when they progress from level to level, stage to stage, or round to round in their games. The acknowledged progress sparks this inner motivation to continue to see what is next, if they can do better, or how they can advanced rationally. 

   Acknowledging progress in education is a must. Maybe I am thinking far fetched on this one but acknowledging progress and the lack their of are things educator should do frequently. Whether it is with a point system, star chart, classroom rewards, or let's not forget the simplicity of just saying "Job well done!" or "You'll do better next time!".  In gaming, you can recieve rewards, they are music and specific sounds for advancement/progress while playing, and some games offer bonuses, lives, or power ups with progress. Transferring such behavior to education should be effortless. Yes, effortless. I use the word in the sense of making a tranisition to incorporate something similar to the acknowledging progress process will take consistency, creativity,  and discernment. Students are already learning a plethora of things through and by gaming! Let's cut to the chase....fuse the tenets of gaming with the urgency to relate to and reach our students and the transfer already has grounds to be very effective. 

• Reflect on Jane's 4 things that games do to make us "virtuosos": Urgent Optimism, Social Fabric, Blissful Productivity, Epic Meaning.

  Amazing how we feel like such better people when are gaming oppose to in actual reality where we live and thrive daily. I was immediately reminded of the movie Surrogates with Brice Willis as I listened to Jane describe the four things that makes us "virtuosos". Funny though that in this world that is completely fabricated we find ourselves displaying actions and having characteristics that we may not have otherwise. The VIRTUAL world infringes upon us VIRTUALLY non existent traits that makes the gamer feel like a VIRTUOSOS optimist with impeccable social skills portraying high levels of productivity resulting in a nostalgic feeling of great purpose. Not so much as funny as it is ironic that gamers feel more comfortable leading a virtual life hidden behind a avatar. After listening to Jane, I can't help but question some aspects of gaming. Is virtual "real-world" gaming as she suggests changing the very fabric of how we communicate and interact with one another?

  In education, I think there must be a fine line drawn in the sand. Gaming is wonderful. Gaming is a wonderful teaching and learning tool. Gaming has the potential to change the way students learn and teachers teach. If I apply the four things to gaming in education I come up with main points:

  1. Students need to be enthused about learning. Learning is a part of growing as I mentioned earlier. Having them excited and hopeful when learning new things is very important. The optimism in them can be bought out by their need to feel accomplished and achieve in gaming. This translates in my mind to students who are eager about learning and the learning process. 

  2. Gaming with others who are learning the same material translates to students collaborating with one another with a common learning goal in mind. In Surrogate, people made friends and were extremely less socially awkward when leading their lives in the body of their surrogate. For example, if gaming is done at home or in a place outside of the classroom students may feel more comfortable and are more likely to contribute and be more socially accessible.

  3. I would love to see VIRTUOSOS students who are oprimistic about learning, develop and maintain social skills, experience productivity in learning, and feel a sense of great accomplishment. All four traits that translate to a student who is having fun while learning. 

  
  This idea of fusing the two (play and learning) is attainable! Hmmmm. . . I'd give it a GO!