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Talk: Video Games and the Future of Education

129K views · Jul 20, 2020 · Gaming

Jonathan Blow

99K subscribers

Comments · 314

@ichibancho · 6 years ago
Somewhere between an hour and 90 minutes. Famous last words.
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@BorisSivko · 6 years ago
A quote about KSP: „I knew KSP was something special when I watched a young kid — probably less than 8 years old — playing KSP and using words like apogee, perigee, prograde, retrograde, delta-v; the lexicon of orbital mechanics. To the layperson orbital mechanics is a counter-intuitive world of energy, thrust, velocity, altitude that this kid — just by playing Kerbal — had managed to get his head around“. (visualizations producer Doug Ellison,  NASA's JPL)
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@pixboi · 5 years ago (edited)
Runescape has helped me develop a good intuition on economics, far before I even knew what economics mean. The motivation to learning the game was that there was actual risk involved, dieing, losing gear, getting scammed.
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@DylanFalconer · 5 years ago
As someone who spent many years being unemployed and playing video games 16 hrs per day, it definitely felt like an addiction. However, in retrospect, I think I was just depressed, and that time could have been filled with any kind of escapism. That being said, I'm definitely way more productive now that I have uninstalled video games from my computer. I used to finish work and play 2-3 hours of DotA, Minecraft, PoE, whatever with my friends, then stay up for a few more hours by myself. For people like me, balance is probably not possible, so it's either you spend all your time playing or none of it.
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@bonsaipropaganda · 3 years ago
what you're talking about is literally my dream. im a beginner programmer and game maker and one day i want to do this! i want to make games that dont suck and can be used to impart understanding
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@charliegnu · 6 years ago
A fun game that can teach you a bit about programming in Assembler Language is Human Resource Machine. By the same guys that did World of Goo.
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@nikolaikalashnikov4253 · 6 years ago (edited)
God damn, this is the first YT video where I've literally wanted to take a sledge hammer and absolutely fucking smash that Like button !!!
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@Juhziz · 5 years ago
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44">00:00</a> Intro <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=101">01:41</a> Start of the talk. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=138">02:18</a> Language as technology, importance of language and it's limits. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=435">07:15</a> Fiction, storytelling, laws and documents. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=696">11:36</a> Written language. Symbolic language. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=1040">17:20</a> Music, Video language. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=1291">21:31</a> Specifics of videogames as a medium. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=1361">22:41</a> Non-linguistic communication. Board Games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=1450">24:10</a> Pac-man. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=1630">27:10</a> Videogames and learning. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=1664">27:44</a> PUBG. Empirical learning. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=2110">35:10</a> Educational games, real world applicability. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=2180">36:20</a> Braid. Guiding the attention of the player. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=2322">38:42</a> The Witness. Experiments in non-linguistic communication. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=2703">45:03</a> Tacit knowledge. Difference between factological knowledge of books and intuition of games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=2990">49:50</a> Problems with educational games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=3227">53:47</a> Zachtronics and Shenzhen I/O. Iterative engineering. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=3537">58:57</a> Opus Magnum. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=3701">1:01:41</a> Miegakure. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=3927">1:05:27</a> Mini Metro. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=4018">1:06:58</a> John's attempt at educational game. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=4417">1:13:37</a> Harnessing the games' abilities. on 'gamification' of scholarship and 'schoolification' of games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=4780">1:19:40</a> Achievements and trophies as manipulation. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=4826">1:20:26</a> Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=5055">1:24:15</a> Learning systems thinking through games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=5310">1:28:30</a> Problem: unconventionality of learning through game. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=5422">1:30:22</a> Game should be enjoyable on it's own. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=5475">1:31:15</a> Problem: Social signalling of schooling through conventional education. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=5683">1:34:43</a> Recap. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=5835">1:37:15</a> Final words. Cave paintings. Symbols. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6100">1:41:40</a> QUESTIONS section start. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6102">1:41:42</a> What about adding required to play games in school program? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6121">1:42:01</a> Cavemen and mind-altering substances. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6145">1:42:25</a> Isn't Miegakure educational game? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6286">1:44:46</a> Optimizing work process as game designer. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6410">1:46:50</a> Can games replace books as narrative carriers? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6430">1:47:10</a> Can games be educational about sociolinguistic skills? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6480">1:48:00</a> Should music and movies have a bigger role in future of education? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6567">1:49:27</a> Gamification's impact on logistics of teaching. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6636">1:50:36</a> Thoughts on KSP. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6776">1:52:56</a> Does simplifying things in games equals lying? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6798">1:53:18</a> Thoughts on sitting down and trying to make a teaching specific skills game. What's interesting about it? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=6988">1:56:28</a> Thoughts on non-systems learning in games, e.g. historical stuff in the strategy games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7070">1:57:50</a> Minecraft as educational game. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7095">1:58:15</a> Games for teaching language. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7155">1:59:15</a> Application of game design in managing courses and other learning programs. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7217">2:00:17</a> Can system thinking game deliver some certain message about the system? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7245">2:00:45</a> Is there an underlying issue involved in allowing children to explore learning themselves and not control the conclusion. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7471">2:04:31</a> Are games deficient at conveying stories? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7514">2:05:14</a> Is there space for medals when they are only given through hard and worthy goals? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7547">2:05:47</a> Letting the game slide where it's the best. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7592">2:06:32</a> Are gacha VN real games? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7649">2:07:29</a> Are experts of existing thing needed for creating good game about it? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7767">2:09:27</a> How we walk the edge in using games for education and not for creating more destructive game addiction? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7876">2:11:16</a> Can increased privatisation of schools help create opportunities for new interesting types of learning? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=7947">2:12:27</a> Is it better to do real thing instead of simulating experience through the game? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8000">2:13:20</a> Does gamification try to fight one vice with another? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8027">2:13:47</a> When it comes to math and physics checking if answer is correct is the integral part of these disciplines and you cannot get rid of it. Simulations do not look good in this sense. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8079">2:14:39</a> What systemic interaction in the game would look like? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8137">2:15:37</a> Are utility and art separate entities when it comes to games? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8405">2:20:05</a> Games as way to criticize social systems? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8443">2:20:43</a> Game making as useful pedagogical tool? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8495">2:21:35</a> Problem of knowledge transfer isn't fully solved yet. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8657">2:24:17</a> Risks and costs of designing an interesting game instead of regular big selling games. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8705">2:25:05</a> Risk of system thinking game not being accurate to real world. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8840">2:27:20</a> Toys for babies, thoughts on Montessori schools. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=8967">2:29:27</a> Role of tacit knowledge and it's underappreciation in current education system. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9054">2:30:54</a> Multiplayer games and their ability to find flaws in the system. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9237">2:33:57</a> Thoughts on explaining philosophical concepts through videogames. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9298">2:34:58</a> Are grades good or bad? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9350">2:35:50</a> Is big part of learning still an essential repetative drudgework? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9383">2:36:23</a> Goal is to make systems that provide deep expertise. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9420">2:37:00</a> Making systems fun is the whole point. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9497">2:38:17</a> It isn't about making a player memorize facts. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9610">2:40:10</a> on curiosity. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9665">2:41:05</a> all games are educational. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWFScmtiC44&t=9734">2:42:14</a> training the space of intuition.
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@HenryRSeymour · 6 years ago
I would love to see a talk that is just a conversation between you and Zach Barth, because he has also given very interesting talks about games as education.
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@halfondarr3951 · 6 years ago
Yup. I definitely wanted to have more teachers like you back then. When I'm was passing my development degree I had to pick a subject and talk about it. I choose :  Serious Games. And during my pitch I was in front of one of my dev teachers, an old man tired by his work and hating the new generation, and a young woman actually working as an IT specialist in a company. I began to speak about the interest of video games in the matter of education, and my teacher was raising his eyebrows like "sweet dreams, but you don't know LIFE, a job has to be learned in a SERIOUS way, not with some gamy stuff". He said that it was unrealistic. On the other hand, the professional by its side said something like "Yes, we are actually testing some serious game in our company for newcomers, and even the older employees" I remember her interest as an encouragment. Today I am an indie dev and even if I'm not yet designing serious games, but more "classical, only fun matters" ones, I always think about the educational potential. I know I will get into it someday. You are a master more people should listen to.
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@brandoncarbaugh7994 · 3 years ago (edited)
What's interesting is that some of the best educational games I can think of are very VERY much the kind of games Jon would enjoy. When I was a kid, I was in "enrichment classes" (aka the room behind the library that they didn't know what to do with, full of freshly purchased computers they didn't know what to do with, where they dumped all the bored smart kids they didn't know what to do with). So in these "classes", we mostly fucked around and played games. One of those games was West Point Bridge Designer, a 2D physics simulator where you build bridges and then a little truck tries to drive across them (and 99% of the time the bridge collapses spectacularly). Sort of a proto-proto-proto Kerbal Space Program. It's a great game, and it teaches basic architecture better than any book EVER could. I remember thinking even at age 8, "Why isn't all of school like this?" I could name a few others that prove the point just as well, because games have this fun self-selection thing where no one wants to play the shitty ones, but the great ones kids gravitate to.
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@MiloticMaster · 6 years ago
Surprised no one mentioned Poly Bridge. Learning physics by intuition is one of the best things games are good at. Hope he takes another shot at Kerbal in the future.
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