The dreams of reason
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The authors present two research studies related to game-based learning environments designed to help middle and high school students develop systems thinking skills. Pre and post testing and mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative) longitudinal collection methods were used. The two studies focus on: (a) Gamestar Mechanic, an online video game, and (b) Quest to Learn, a games-based school which recently opened in New York City. Both studies assessed middle school students' ability to develop system-thinking skills as result of participating in these educational interventions. Levels of change in the development of systems thinking will be described in the paper, but the authors' main focus concerns how these gains were attained by the students. What role did context play in the learning process? The authors argue that a "nodal ecology" of redundant and predictable learning experiences serve to explain changes in cognitive development.