Shawn made mention of the walk-through type training that computer games give players, suggesting that it could be expanded to any learning situation...
Here is something similar. In the FAQ section of the WoW website, they describe the role of a Game Master...
"If you need assistance at any time while you are in the game, do not hesitate to contact a Game Master (GM). Our team of GMs are available to assist you with a wide range of problems and issues you may encounter. To contact a GM, follow these simple steps..."
I wonder how likely players are to use this assistance compared with asking for help in a regular classroom environment.
2 comments:
Hi, I'm one of Lisa Cohen's former students. I saw her link to your blog and thought I'd comment (mostly because it's not homework, haha).
I've been playing for a while and the only time I ever contacted a GM was because one of the mobs (monsters) was bugged and was punching me from twenty feet away. I feel like I treat asking the GM questions the same way I treat asking teachers questions.
First I see if I can look for help myself, which usually means quest help. Thottbot.com has every quest, item, etc. listed with drop rates and typical spawn locations. In class I would usually re-read the directions or check a dictionary or my book.
If that doesn't work I usually ask a peer which in WoW means asking in the /1 chat, but sometimes they are just stupid 12 year olds and will only respond with Chuck Norris jokes or sexual innuendos. In class I would probably ask a peer before asking the teacher. Sometimes I'm just so tired and don't want to ask the teacher to repeat something he or she already said 5 times because I wasn't listening because I was sleepy or something like that.
The last thing I will do if I can't find the help anywhere is ask the GM. Most people seem to use it for harassment (like being ganged up on by higher levels in a newbie starting zone) or for technical issues. I ask the teacher a lot more questions than I ask the GM. It's also much faster to tab out of WoW and pull up Thottbot than it is to contact a GM because you have to wait for a reply. In class I can get immediate feedback from the teacher.
I think that if Blizzard made a walk-through type training they should make it for MLA style research papers. I don't know what I would do without my teacher's (baby) step by step guide because it is sooo long and complicated. I should probably be doing that actually.
-Becky
(I hope it's okay that I don't know you and I left a comment on your blog. I hope it helped! =])
Nice comment, Becky!
I thought that this was a cool post, too. It's a really interesting experience to place yourself into the position of a novice learner again, especially in a context where there might be social stigmas associated with asking beginner questions.
What do you think could be done in these kind of games to make newbies feel more welcome? Or, do you think that dealing with griefers is just part of the progression in starting this new learning experience?
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