The Learning Game

The world needs innovators and problem solvers, yet schools penalize free thinkers.

The “game of school” and the “game of learning” are not analogous. Learning is something that children do naturally, and it occurs when they play, explore the world around them, and experiment. The game of school, on the other hand, unfolds in the classroom, and it does not typically align with the ways that humans learn naturally. When playing the game of school, children learn to please adults by engaging in the “imitation of learning”— that is, executing the behaviors for which adults reward them — for example, raising their hands to win approval, despite not feeling engaged or interested in the lesson.

The students who choose the game of learning over the game of school often get typecast as rebels. The best learners may struggle to follow instructions and question the purpose of assignments. But the kids who make up their own rules and aren’t afraid to think differently are likely the ones who will achieve the most success as adults. In fact, some of the most innovative minds — including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Oprah...