I would agree that the edutainment waters down stuff because there is only so much you can make into a game, especially considering the time and effort it takes to make each class oh-so-entertaining at least for psychology. The english profs I know dont have to worry about it. They can have enriching discussions and 'close readings'. Many don't even need power point if you can believe that! Of course, if 'you' don't produce edutainment materials and select the glossy full color textbooks, 'you' will probably get poor reviews and be fired. At least it all seems that way. --Mike
--- On Sat, 12/27/08, Christopher D. Green <[email protected]> wrote: From: Christopher D. Green <[email protected]> Subject: [tips] English pupils get better at maths and science - but enjoy them less | Education | The Guardian To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 6:09 PM Recent changes in the English school curriculum have students doing better in math and sciences, but they like it a lot less. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/dec/10/education-international-league-table-schools An article like this makes me wonder... do the various "modern" teaching techniques with which we have been inundated over the past few decades result in greater student enjoyment of the topics because, in essence, they are simply easier (viz., teach less) than the traditional techniques? Learning a lot of formal material can be boring and frustrating, no doubt, but it gets the job done more efficiently. Using lots of games, activities, etc. results in a more enjoyable experience, but not as well educated students. Or, to put it perhaps more memorably, does drill makes the skill? Chris -- #yiv272419522 #yiv584617493 p.p1 {margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;font:16.0px Times New Roman;} #yiv272419522 #yiv584617493 span.s1 {font:16.0px Lucida Grande;} Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [email protected] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
