One point is that while memorizing specific causes of the fall of the roman empire may not be especially useful, acquiring the self-discipline necessary to do this without a game to motivate you might be very useful.
Perhaps, but if the task doesn’t also feel interesting and worthwhile by itself, then we’re effectively teaching kids that much of learning is dull, pointless and tedious, detached from anything that would have any real-world significance, and something that you only do because the people in power force you to. That’s one of the most harmful attitudes that anyone can pick up. Let’s associate learning with something fun and interesting first, and then channel that interest into the ability to self-motivate yourself even without a game later on.
One point is that while memorizing specific causes of the fall of the roman empire may not be especially useful, acquiring the self-discipline necessary to do this without a game to motivate you might be very useful.
Perhaps, but if the task doesn’t also feel interesting and worthwhile by itself, then we’re effectively teaching kids that much of learning is dull, pointless and tedious, detached from anything that would have any real-world significance, and something that you only do because the people in power force you to. That’s one of the most harmful attitudes that anyone can pick up. Let’s associate learning with something fun and interesting first, and then channel that interest into the ability to self-motivate yourself even without a game later on.