#transformative learning experience

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GameGraphy Excercise

At the start of the semester, we were given a rather fun activity that involved us to recall our favorite childhood games. We were supposed to list them and then create a line from what games we played from birth until now. When I first started this exercise, it was difficult for me to remember all of the games I played when I was younger. Once I did think of some games, the list I created was never ending. I managed to come up with thirty one games including ones from my toddler years and ones that I still continue to play to this date. I did not have a scanner so I couldn't upload my time line but I will try and do my best to describe it.

From a young age, the most popular games during that time were peekaboo, hide and seek, tag, frozen tag and hand clap games. During grade four, games such as heads up 7up, marco polo, crazy eights, barbies, guess who, monopoly and broken telephone were popular. Computer games like the Sims and Neopets were two of my most played games. Entering my teenage years I started to become a big fan of the Game Cube, the Ninetendo DS and Playstation 3. Since I have two older brothers, I was always surrounded by video games which is why I've had plenty of knowledge and experience with them. The games I play now still remain to be video games but board games as well, it's a great idea to get together with your friends and play cranium. This game tests your knowledge and contains questions on about almost anything.

The purpose of this exercise has made me reflect upon how games have provided me with an experience that has aided me from childhood, by developing and maintaining cognitive skills and functioning. People may not realize but the games we played and still play all have an impact on the way we think and learn. Card games are a good example of this, any type of card game involves us to think of strategies and tactics when playing. If we think about it, you cannot play card games without knowing the rules. Along with the rules comes strategies we need to employ to win. When playing crazy eights, the goal of the players is to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible. We have to decide what cards are the easiest to get rid of and which cards the other player has, which we can play on to link (suits for ourselves) and block (suits against other players) the people playing with us. Experiences that I have drawn from games have helped me work better with others when working in teams, or when tasked with something individually.

During a game of hangman for example, we were required to communicate with one another and brainstorm ideas to make sure the other team wouldn't guess the word we thought of.  According to Konstantin Mitgutsch he mentions how games shape the way we learn. "Pattern learned in a game does not lead to an immediate transformation process, but it can allow transformation if a connection to real life settings is fostered at the right times" (66). I find this to be accurate, the experience does not happen right away. We begin playing games at a young age, later we build upon and improve these skills that will bear fruit for us to benefit from in the future.

In conclusion, the gamegraphy exercise has been interesting and fun to participate in. It let me reflect on how games have meaning and teach us how to think or even how to react in certain situations.

Source

Mitgutsch, K. “Playful Learning Experiences: Meaningful Learning Patters in Players’ Biographies.” International Kournal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations 3.3 (2011): 54-68.