#tangential learning

[greatwyrmgold]

VTuber Legend is a surprisingly educational anime.

[dailyrandomwriter]

Day 716

Shortly after I graduated from university, YouTube was slowly starting to gain more and more content creators that were creating videos to educate, or encourage viewers to learn and think. One of those early channels was Extra Credits, and one of their earliest videos was about tangential learning.

Tangential learning is when people take time out to self-educate themselves after being introduced to a topic within a context they already enjoy. At the time I had watched that video (well over a decade ago), I had understood the concept and had experienced it as a child, but never in the context of video games. Which was what Extra Credits was discussing, the possibility of using video games to encourage players to self-educate themselves.

This was more likely due to the kind of games I liked to play. I often played puzzle games, farming games and role play games. While role play games could have real world references, it would have never occurred to me that they were real world references worth looking up. 

And then… Book of Hours happened to me. The game Book of Hours is set in an alternative version of our world where the occult plays a large role underneath people’s daily lives, and the mysticism and unknown that come with the occult is real. Specifically, the game is set in an alternative version of 1930s UK. This means that occasionally the game’s text will use words that are not in common usage or terms that I’m familiar with. 

While I have enough reading comprehension to at least get the gist of what the text is telling me, I’ve been invested enough into this game that I will write that sentence down and question mark the word that I don’t know. After I’m done playing, I have been taking time to look up those words or terms. Sometimes reading through the wiki page if something catches my attention.

I’ve learned about fuguing tunes and lignum vitae wood, because I wanted to better understand the world in which my character lives in. The funny thing is, I don’t really feel put out having to do this, because it’s really not necessary. Book of Hours is a mystery wrapped in a simulation game that uses card mechanics. And while I’m not smart enough to discover all the mysteries that the Book of Hours has to offer, I enjoy at least trying.

[pokeprism]

10/23/2020

I feel like admitting something wholesome to you all today. Thanks to an acquaintance of mine on this platform, I’m learning a whole lot of stuff that I would have otherwise stumbled across, with knowledge ranging from politics, ethical behavior, to religious studies, and many more! I have always been a sucker for any bit of tangential learning, because my stance on education puts the student in charge of what they want learn past the basics and their teacher(s) in a guide-type role rather than the soul arbiter of their students’ path. That sort of philosophy has made me so eager to learn outside of the education system to the point that I actually supplement “real education” with the the bountiful amount of educational channels on Youtube out of not wanting to lose my drive to learn brought on upon by “real education”. Among the most notable educational channels I’ve found on Youtube are Extra Credits, CGP Grey, Innuendo Studios, This Place, In A Nutshell, Crash Course, Overly Sarcastic Productions, and Scishow. But relevant to my story today is that I was scrolling through my dashboard and saw a reblog from my acquaintance. This one in particular was a string of people talking about this app that, once you scanned a bar code, would tell users if that item of food was halal or not. With my curiosity very much peaked, I looked up halal and proceeded to learn the term’s definitions, origin, and several other tangents related to it.

Basic gist, being in such a diverse platform with diverse people using it means that more varied knowledge is being transmitted. Albeit, it also allows misinformation to occasionally slip through the cracks, but besides that, a diverse online space is a powerful thing for self education. I’ll link to the post that got me to make this one here for the sake of clarity, because I had fun learning about this material! I hope all of you enjoy your day!

[oddlyalli]

Amazon helpfully educating me on the history of film in the trivia on Rogue Nation is a prime example of tangential learning.

[lacrimalis]

i think a cool video game design idea would be like, if you’re already making characters who are anthropomorphized animals? base them on a specific pre-existing breed of that animal and stick as much as you can to their dietary restrictions, habitat, potentially even social behaviors (while keeping in mind it is difficult to advance as a society without cooperation), etc

because then not only would you have a cool opportunity to implement healing items that aren’t just burgers, bandages, and Florence flasks full of red Kool-Aid -- you’re getting a lot of incidental inspiration for world-building at the same time, and you’re giving your players a tangential learning opportunity to discover more about this particular type of animal

i just think something like that would be really cool

[fox-metro]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KERdEwh7bsM)

[gmraptura]

Extra Credits - Tangential Learning - How Games Can Teach Us While We Play

This week, we talk about one of the ways games can teach us new things (without being boring about it). Come discuss this topic in the forums! http://extra-c...

Here’s a pretty old video that got me interested in bringing the idea of video games into educational settings. Tangential learning has always been the best way for me to learn, and I realize that this isn't the same for everyone. Both sides of the coin have their benefits and downfalls. In my case, the benefit is being able to problem solve by taking different aspects of my life and applying them everywhere i go (I see the unit circle spinning in my head). But on the other side of the coin, i tend to lose focus a lot because i don't have a facilitated learning focus or focused mindset. Games let us expose our players in this Tangential learning, but the medium itself allows for much more. It can engage its players in a focused form of learning (Physics based games anyone?) or let its players explore what they want to learn and pace themselves without being pressured by grading systems. On the other hand, games like minecraft and more open world (sandbox) games allow the player to learn more about themselves by exploring their inner imagination. Food for thought.

[shadowkittycrescent]

Anxiety

I am so excited and so nervous! I've spent the last six months researching video games and learning, via tangential learning. I will be presenting my research at the annual Oklahoma Research Day on Friday. Which is fantastic!I'm really shy, though. I almost freeze up in crowds and stuff. But this is important to me, so imma do my best! Wish me luck, y'all!