Learning in Video Games

Yasmin Kafai in UCLA discusses a difference in philosophy between instructionists and constructionists regarding educational video games. Instructionists have typically tried to “embed” learning into games (using “games to teach”), while constructionists have students construct new knowledge while building or creating new things (using “games to learn”). She argues that “constructionist approaches have received far less attention than their instructionist counterparts, but it is conceivable that they hold far more potential for engaging childrens’ enthusiasm for games in the service of learning.” Click here to read Kafai’s paper (2001).