Building games beats using them

Responding to questions that have a right or a wrong answer, or listening to someone talk about a subject is not always the best way to learn. Idit Harel states “that children and grown ups learn best when they actively engage in playful exploration in which they design and build their own projects, try ideas and tinker with notions”

This relates back to constructionist learning, which believes that children learn best when they drive their own learning, through being the role of designer and builder. True learning happens when we create something whether it is small or big, when we work on projects and create things we learn about the processes as well as the final product.

However it is not only in constructing something that learning becomes meaningful for the learner, the creation process must be shared with others in order for true learning to progress. In sharing and reflecting on the steps that were taken to get to the final product, students are able to share what they know and how they have done it.

The great thing about creating something isn’t just the final product but the learning that takes place whilst we are creating, it is a known fact that when we do something there is more of a chance that we will understand and remember it.

Creating something online allows children to come back at a later date and add to it, so as their knowledge increases so does what they are creating, therefore the creation grows with the Childs knowledge.

Creating online games or tasks is much better than just playing someone else’s game, as it offers more opportunities for playful and meaningful learning. It is through this process of designing, constructing and interacting that children learn vital skills that are needed in life after school; these include thinking creatively, collaborate, make decisions, handle challenges and generate new ideas.

The power of creating gets overlooked not only does it provide motivation and skills, it challenges children and forces them to use creativity. Whilst we can write something down, it doesn’t offer children the room to be free the same way creating with technology does, there is no better learning experience than growing with your work.

http://www.mamamedia.com/areas/grownups/new/21_learning/building_software.html