Failure is Fun: Experimenting with VR and Videogaming for Pedagogy

Experimenting with any new pedagogical tool or software opens us up to failure. This is why it is important to keep lessons from videogaming in mind. Videogames teach us that failure can be fun while encouraging creative exploration. Keeping videogames in mind when constructing courses means considering the broad ecosystem relationships formed between players, creators, and educators in mind. As valuable as “fun” and “play” might be, the larger purpose is to create spaces of meaningful development. For videogames to reach to be meaningful for and as educational environments, practicing intentionality in design and being open to failure is essential.

Email Shawn Loner to Register scloner@syr.edu