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The only way to be introduced to a discipline is extrinsically. It's impossible to wake up and enjoy Computing Science - one must have had an introduction to i

The only way to be introduced to a discipline is extrinsically. It's impossible to wake up and enjoy Computing Science - one must have had an introduction to it in some form. The idea behind the "gamification" of education is not to trick people into mastering a discipline. It's to introduce them to it.

aik 15y ago
I'm not sure if I understand what you mean. If I do I'm not sure if I agree. A love for computers and all they're capable of isn't born inside a game that gives you points for building [insert program]. A love for programming goes deeper -- it's linked to an internal curiosity and drive to create things and the knowledge that you have the capability to create nearly whatever you have the capacity to think of. Secondly, the blogger isn't arguing for games to introduce people to new disciplines, but rather to let games drive their entire learning career.
- mgallivan 15y ago
  I wasn't so much concerned with the blogger's views (which I disagree with as well), as I was with your fear of the trend of gamification. How come a love of computing can't be born inside a game consisting of building programs for points? I was introduced to programming because I wanted to make video games. I didn't want to program - I just wanted the satisfaction of a completed game. My love of programming came over time as I experimented. This is, of course, very subjective but whenever I think about any of my hobbies I recall always being led to them because of some outside factor. It was only after I began practicing them that I learned to enjoy them for what they were.
  - aik 15y ago
    Oh I see -- I think we're interpreting 'external motivator' differently. You coming to the decision on your own that you wanted to create a game is not to me an example of being externally motivated to begin programming. That's an example of you discovering the world and coming to the decision that you liked what you saw in video games. Another person might experience the same video game and be indifferent to it. An external motivator would be someone telling you that if you create a game you will get some irrelevant award, and so you go ahead and create a game. The next time you have the idea to create the game, and the award isn't there, you'll be less inclined to do it.
    - mgallivan 15y ago
      I guess it depends where you draw the line in the sand. I'm still a fan of whatever the trend may be, but I think we both agree that the blogger goes too far.

aik 15y ago

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean. If I do I'm not sure if I agree. A love for computers and all they're capable of isn't born inside a game that gives you points for building [insert program]. A love for programming goes deeper -- it's linked to an internal curiosity and drive to create things and the knowledge that you have the capability to create nearly whatever you have the capacity to think of. Secondly, the blogger isn't arguing for games to introduce people to new disciplines, but rather to let games drive their entire learning career.

mgallivan 15y ago
I wasn't so much concerned with the blogger's views (which I disagree with as well), as I was with your fear of the trend of gamification. How come a love of computing can't be born inside a game consisting of building programs for points? I was introduced to programming because I wanted to make video games. I didn't want to program - I just wanted the satisfaction of a completed game. My love of programming came over time as I experimented. This is, of course, very subjective but whenever I think about any of my hobbies I recall always being led to them because of some outside factor. It was only after I began practicing them that I learned to enjoy them for what they were.
- aik 15y ago
  Oh I see -- I think we're interpreting 'external motivator' differently. You coming to the decision on your own that you wanted to create a game is not to me an example of being externally motivated to begin programming. That's an example of you discovering the world and coming to the decision that you liked what you saw in video games. Another person might experience the same video game and be indifferent to it. An external motivator would be someone telling you that if you create a game you will get some irrelevant award, and so you go ahead and create a game. The next time you have the idea to create the game, and the award isn't there, you'll be less inclined to do it.
  - mgallivan 15y ago
    I guess it depends where you draw the line in the sand. I'm still a fan of whatever the trend may be, but I think we both agree that the blogger goes too far.