My Flashback – Quiz games
At the risk of disclosing my age, I am going to tell everyone the story of the one game that popped into my mind. It was a game that was played using a 5 inch floppy disk. My Dad got it for me to encourge me into learning about computers and their history. It was pretty much an multiple choice test with a reward at the end. The reward was a digital fireworks display, however, as I was using a monochrome monitor it wasn’t all that pretty. Despite this, I remember working very hard to ace that test. And after a while I would just re-do the test over and over again to see the lame digital fireworks (weird, I know). This early simulation based game did get my brain learning and it is funny how a little reward (no matter how lame) can motivate a person.
Juliana.
Posted in: Week 05: Game-Based Learning
Julie S 3:19 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
That reward system really works doesn’t it? I had the similar experience with the typing tutor which had a little guy jumping over hurdles. Whenever I missed a keystroke he would trip on the hurdle. It kept me typing for long periods of time to try to see how long I could go without the guy tripping. Such simplicity to get you hooked but it probably wouldn’t work today with the complex virtual worlds that are out there.
– Julie
Juliana 8:28 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I remember those typing tutors! Those were fun. The one that I really enjoyed was Typer Shark by Pop gap games. Very addictive, but it did improve my typing skills.
Juliana.
bcourey 5:07 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
we must be from the same era..because I remember that too! 5 inch floppy disks were so up-and-coming!!
Juliana 8:29 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
We are definitely from the same era then! It’s funny because now I have a memory stick that can hold up to 16GB of memory. Now that’s progress!
Juliana.
Everton Walker 6:04 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I am from the floppy era too and now when I look at one I just have laugh and say omg. You hit the nail on the head about reward. I dont know if it’s because most people experience more sad times than happy times in life why we embrace anything rewarding and successful. Games really have the power to motivate us and that’s the reason many persons are hooked on them. For some, this is the only medium where they find success.
Juliana 8:34 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks Everton for your comments. You are right in that we seem to be a reward based society. I think it has something to do with how we are evolutionarily wired. Even when I am teaching it is amazing what people will do for a chocolate bar.
Juliana.
ifeoma 6:19 pm on October 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Juliana, I agree that rewards work for kids. Again there may have been an element of novelty there for you too even though the fireworks were in monochrome, there were not other games that could do that then. I wonder at what point that novelty wore off and then you started wanting more, perhaps asking your dad why the fireworks would not show color 🙂
Juliana 8:37 am on October 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks for your question! I stopped playing the game when the fireworks weren’t enough of a pay off for me. I found that after a while I could do the whole test in 5 minutes flat without even really thinking about it. It is the same thing I face today with other games. I am only interested in them when I have to work to get to progress forward in it. However, when I get to a point where I am playing the game and having other thoughts running through my head (ie. what to do for work, grocery lists etc.), then I know it is time to move on to another game. When I start no longer focusing on the game, it means I am getting good at it and it is time for me to move on.
Juliana.