E-Learning Blog

Ludic Learning or Learning Through Gameplay

2012-02-23T11:42:00.003-05:00

How can educators incorporate learning through play into teaching pedagogy? Before a child enters formal schooling, ludic learning occurs naturally and is responsible for much of the basic learning he or she acquires at an early age. Inquiry, exploration, and play, such as playing in the sandbox, help children learn cognitive concepts, as well as social and language skills. As children mature into adults, educators should mirror the concepts of ludic learning to take advantage of human aptitude to learn through play and experience. Instructional design for adults can be transformed through the use of these same ludic or game based learning strategies. Experiences during play have the potential to enlighten our students and build intrinsic motivation, while developing self-confidence—all acquired by progressing through hard, but engaging problem solving. Public schools and universities must embrace new teaching methodologies and immerse students in experiential learning focused on critical thinking and decision-making. The surplus of information made so readily available by new technologies, make it critically important for today’s student to possess skills in evaluating, synthesizing and constructing new information. Important aspects of ludic learning are peer collaboration, failing forward, and authentic assessment and feedback loops.

Building a Learning Community

2009-10-29T13:43:00.000-04:00

A learning environment that encourages students to read and discuss topics pertinent to the curricula helps to build a sense of community within the course. This type of atmosphere requiring active participation enables students to be recognized by not only the instructor, but by their peers as well. The traditional classroom is valuable because students learn from each other as much as, if not more than, they may from their instructor. In a community-driven online course, the students don't just exercise their voices with the instructor, their voices are recognized by all involved in the class.

Creating an student centered / instructor facilitated interaction

2009-10-29T13:40:00.001-04:00

In order to create an interactive environment, you must ask both directed and open ended questions to which the students respond. Activities that result in critical thinking such as case studies, problems, solutions, answers, questions, dialogue, and ideas that evolve from each student in the course. A good online course elicits responses on a regular basis, and these responses are shared in a communal forum.

Eliciting Participation

2008-12-05T13:51:00.001-05:00

What are some of your strategies for eliciting participation from your students in the discussion forum?