Game and Simulation for Learning

Yesterday evening, my wife and I attended a talk on “Game and Simulation for Learning” at the Singapore Science Centre. We were very impressed with a Lego game called “Replica” which went something like this: teams were to make replicas of a model using Lego Bricks. The fastest and most accurate replica wins.
Each team was made up of a builder, 2 architects and an observer. The architects will have their hands behind their back throughout the game and gave verbal instructions to the builder. Only the architects were allowed to see the model which was hidden in a box and then ran to the builder to give him the instructions to build. They can run to and fro the model as often as they want.
On our way home, we thought it would be a good idea to try it on our children. We had a good laugh over what might happen: our youngest boy, WK, would end up as the builder. The brother would give instructions at motor speed, frustrating both of them in the process. The girl would have tripped over herself trying to communicate 3-D ideas and they would end up screaming and crying over it.
Today, after lunch, we got them to do play the game anyway. As expected, WK was nominated as the builder. Being a systematic fellow, he started to arrange his pieces according to shapes and sizes while the other two discussed on the strategy. They played the game with a lot of fun and laughter. No drama, nothing like what we had imagined. They certainly deserved more credit that we had given them.
We all had a good laugh when we discovered that the replica’s color was the mirror image of the original. I supposed it has to do with how we communicate. While it is good manner to talk face to face, it adds to the confusion of whose perspective you are talking about, that is, my left or your left. I think it might be better if the architect goes behind the builder and gives the instructions from there.

Learning Point: Different people use different ways to describe the same thing, for example, imagine a circle and below it is a triangle. Both shapes are about the same size and the circle is just touching the apex of the triangle. Some people will say the triangle is in front of the circle while others will say that it is to the south of the circle.

The meaning of our communication is the response that we get. If someone is agitated at what you said, it is not her fault; it is what you said that made her so.