Master of the universe | Technology | The Observer
How important is it that his games teach as well as entertain? ‘I’m not sure teach is the right word,’ he says. ‘Computer games and simulations are much more powerful [as an aid] to motivate than to teach. I’d rather have a game that got a person interested in the subject than tried to put a lot of facts into their head. It’s not a matter of sugarcoating education. Education when done right is inherently fun. There shouldn’t be a difference between the two. Our culture has disconnected the ideas of education and fun – and if anything, I’m trying to reconnect those two things.’
This is exactly how I think it should work. Light a spark in a child, give them enough to interest them in something, then sit back and let them go. On Tuesday I’m giving the First Great Lesson and I’m hoping at the end of it my children will have enough questions to keep themselves occupied and learning to learn for quite some time, and all they will need me for is assistance, rather than trying to teach them things that are boring.
I can hope, can’t I?
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