Article Summary Of:

Schank, R. C. and Kass, A. (1996). A goal-based scenario for high school students. Commun. ACM 39, 4 (Apr. 1996), 28-29. DOI= http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/227210.227216

Primary Topic(s) Addressed:  Simulations

Secondary Topic(s) Addressed:  learning, motivation and challenging learners, goal setting and problem solving

How this might be used on my dissertation:

Seems that the key is using computers as effective teaching tools is using them to create challenging problems for the learners to solve.

GBS:  see defn below:  3 requirements needed in educational simulations / games

Questions Raised (potential topic for me):

This is a short paper with a short / vague framework for educational simulations / games.

Might be something in this- translating into more concrete requirements that game designers could use.

How could this be improved / expanded on?  Leaves the 'fun' aspect out- although a challenge can be fun, it's not always the case.  Also, in games- leaves out the split-second decision making that keeps gamers on edge.

 

Summary of Paper:

Author says that educational multimedia has traditionally been used to make the ACCESS of the information easier

However, effective learning environments need to do three things (see quote below):  generate goals that motivate the students, provide a context for getting the knowledge, and give challenges that force the students to analyze the situation and put the information to use.

This process is a Goal-Based Scenario (GBS):  "provides motivation, context, and specific challenges as well as access to information." (p. 28)

GBS:  learning, doing and assessment are not divided like traditional courses- they are all byproducts of doing.

Seems that the key is using computers as effective teaching tools is using them to create challenging problems for the learners to solve.

Terms / Definitions defined:

1. Goal-Based Scenario (GBS):  "provides motivation, context, and specific challenges as well as access to information." (p. 28)

Good Quotes:

see paper (circled) - p. 29:  3 bullet points:  a recipe for effective multimedia learning environments

"In addition to providing access to useful information, an effective learning environment must do the following three interrelated things:

• Generate goals that will motivate students to access information;
• Provide an authentic context in which to situate the knowledge students access; and
• Confront students with specific challenges that require them to analyze the information they access, and put it to use." (p. 28)