Guided play, the domain of great video games, is found to be most effective at accelerating learning.
“While free play is crucial for children’s well-being, recent research emphasizes that guided play is a more effective approach to support children’s learning in reading, STEM, and learning-to-learn skills like attention, memory, and flexible thinking,â€
The secret is to set the players on a challenge, quest or adventure that intersects with learning, while not breaking the flow. This means the learning must occur within the confines of the play narrative, giving hints and pointers along the way with lots of room for self discovery.
This is the unmatched skill of great video game designers. Managing a challenge condition in alignment with a well told story or construct. Too hard and frustration sets in. Too easy and boredom and lack of accomplishment reduces the positive inducement to continue. Outside of the story and the flow state is interrupted.
Of course, this type of play can be accomplished without a video game, but the medium lends itself to this method.
When we think about teaching new skills on mass, be that STEM, learning-to-learn or even behaviors tied to better mental health, it is hard to imagine a broader reaching more effective approach than a well designed, engaging video game.
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