I believe It's a Goldberg Game successfully allows players to exercise play and creativity to learn about energy transfers. The game requires players to tinker using their hands, speak, listen, and take in information visually.
This game guides players to experience "hard fun," as defined by Seymour Papert. At times, completing the Rube Goldberg challenges can be difficult, even frustrating. However, the goal is to have players enjoy the struggle involved in innovating and tinkering through the challenges.Â
I sought to teach players about energy transfer in the real world. Energy and how it is transferred is a key conceptual topic in physics. This game allows players to learn specifically about mechanical energy transfers, involving potential and kinetic energy. The learning outcomes of this game are as follows:
Players will be able to define potential and kinetic energy.
Players will be able to identify when energy is converted between potential and kinetic energy.
Players will be able to create real world examples of energy transfer and correctly identify the energy transfer taking place.
In this game, players have the opportunity to learn from each other in the process of completing challenges. The game allows players to make mistakes as part of the learning process. For example, when identifying the types of energy transfers in their steps, if a player makes a mistake, there is a process for fellow players to help correct the mistake.
I believe the game also allows students develop their listening and speaking skills, as these are required components of the game. For English Language Learners and Students With Disabilities, practicing these skills can help them in other parts of studying physics, such as when explaining their reasoning to classmates or their teacher.