What are your initial reactions to this theory/model? What are barriers to its use? What benefits might be expected for those who overcome the barriers?
When I was watching the lecture, I almost yelled out, "Oregon Trail!" I think all children of the 80s/early 90s experienced some version of Goal Based Scenario teaching through Oregon Trail or other computer games. Obviously, as evidenced by the 800,000+ people a month who play Oregon Trail on facebook now, people LOVE goal based scenarios.
The Goal Based Scenario method basically seems to me like "tricking" the students into learning by playing a game to reach a destination. Despite the sleight of hand element of this, I think this is a great, engaging, interactive way for students to learn about a variety of topics.
One problem I see about this method is that it can limit student choices and higher order thinking when all they have to do is make one decision and then another. These scenarios, by design, tend to be more "multiple choice" than open-ended, and some students may just try the guess-and-check method without paying much attention to the consequences or learning along the way. Younger students might also get "lost" along the way if the program is not well guided. Planning a goal based scenario lesson for students obviously requires a great deal of up front work as well- and those that are based on a computer may require advanced design skills.
Would you attempt to use this theory/model with the students you are currently teaching or hope to teach in the future? Why or why not? Could elements of the theory/model be modified so that it would work with your current/future students?
I would love to use this model more often with my students, but it's a difficult thing to plan for. There are some programs that I've used before with my students (like Peetnik Mysteries) and I would be open to using other lessons using Goal Based Scenarios, but I haven't gone to the trouble to plan out a whole lesson in that way and have not seen many simple options for these online.
Since we're taking learning theories/models that were not necessarily created with the Web in mind and turning them into Web modules, what Web-based tools or resources could be leveraged to carry out this learning theory/model online?
I think the internet is an ideal platform for Goal Based Scenarios since information and multimedia can easily be complied and linked to put together a program. A tool as simple as Blogspot or Wordpress could be an online journal for students to read and find clues to reach a goal. Video sharing sites such as YouTube or Teachertube offer an online space for videos that could serve as the cover story or introduction of information along the way. To really create a visually pleasing and easily accessible program online, I think the designer would have to know more advanced web design, including flash, which officially puts it out of my league.
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI agree entirely that the internet makes a wonderful platform with which to use GBL. I haven't learned flash animation, either, although I hope to learn it in the near future, but it does make a wonderful way to deliver a lesson in this format. With the increasing technology in the classroom, my guess is that educators will begin to specialize in this endeavor, using flash and other ideas.
Using GBL, as other class members have mentioned, does indeed take a lot of time in the planning, making it difficult to use for class purposes.
Also, you mentioned younger students getting "lost along the way." That certainly can happen, but, ironically, it's hard to justify calling the approach "goal-based" if the goal is not well defined!
Enjoyed you post.
Al