In his 1991 book, Art and Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, & Light, Leonard Shlain suggests that ‘in order to learn something radically new, we need first to imagine it.’ (Shlain, 1991). Ubisoft’s Rocksmith video game took that very route when it comes to innovative guitar education.
What is it?
Despite the fact that it is a video game, Rocksmith is best described as a learning application. Rocksmith does not include plastic instruments – the student is required to connect a real guitar or bass to use the game. The game acts primarily as an interactive tablature to teach students how to play songs. Of course, it is so much more than that; the $40 spent on the game and cable could be a small investment towards a lifetime of learning. The first version of Rocksmith released in 2011; however, Rocksmith: 2014 Edition represents the current edition and is the version you should purchase. (Stegner, 2016).
Accessible Goals
It is not necessary for the student to possess any prior knowledge of guitar playing before they begin playing the game. The first lesson is launched upon initiating the game, and demonstrates how to attach the strap, hold the guitar, and tune it. Students should not be concerned if they are unfamiliar with any of this.
Each lesson in the game contains a video that can be replayed at any time. It covers everything from the bare basics that a beginner would need to know before attempting to learn songs (such as how to hold a pick and strum properly) to expert techniques such as the two-hand tapping.
The student will also find a practice track at the end of each lesson that tests their understanding of the subject matter.
It is crucial to master the fundamentals when learning the guitar so that the student does not practice incorrectly. In Rocksmith, this is achieved with a collection of retro-styled games that play like classic arcade games but are also designed as a teaching tool. Students can practice how to move quickly around the strings, for example, with String Skip Saloon. Or, by using chords to fend off the undead, Castle Chordead ensures students know basic chords.
Despite their apparent simplicity, these games will ensure students are building a solid foundation and provide a fun way to practice techniques they may otherwise find difficult.
Frequent Feedback
Whenever you make a mistake, Rocksmith learns from it. Every time you play a song, the game provides you with information regarding the percentage of notes you have hit and three personalized action items to review. In case you had some difficulty with string bends in the song, it encourages you to review the lesson. Perhaps you are having difficulty hitting a particular chord in the song. The game allows you to review chords in full-screen mode at any time if you need help.
Naturally, the most adaptive aspect of the game is also one of its greatest benefits - the game adapts the difficulty of the song to your skills. As each song is comprised of separate sections, when you play it for the first time, you may be playing only bits and pieces of the full piece. Rocksmith gradually increases the difficulty as you succeed in a section, until you are playing the actual notes of the song.
With this approach, you can begin at a low level and gradually progress through songs that you once thought were impossible. Seeing your progress is extremely rewarding!
Promotes Self Volition
The easiest and most enjoyable way to pick up guitar for the first time is to play Rocksmith 2014. The tutorials are incredibly easy to follow and the games are incredibly engaging. Despite the fact that it can't teach students everything they need to know about the instrument, it does make practicing a lot more fun.
“It is questionable that learners always follow a direct, uninterrupted path from goal-setting to goal achievement. Instead, students pursue not one but multiple goals aimed not only at learning but also at a variety of positive experiences. Thus, different goals interact in complex ways and change over time. For example, there is one type of priority given to growth goals (e.g., to deepen one’s knowledge base); another type of priority is given to maintain emotional well-being (e.g., to look smart and protect one’s ego).” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018). With this in mind, Rocksmith developed multiple routes to learning with their program. Three routes are given with song selection: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and bass. This gives students control over where they want to go with their learning and encourages them to keep going.
A vast song selection, personalized lessons, and interactive games all add up to an encouraging and motivational way to learn guitar. A challenge even comes with Rocksmith to help facilitate practice. It is suggested that students spend a few minutes each day playing this game for two months, and see where it will lead them. They are encouraged to post video clips onto Rocksmith's social sites for others to see how they are progressing. It's such a rewarding experience to feel the progress being made as a guitarist and Rocksmith's teaching methods will have students on that path in no time.
References
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2018). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. Pearson Education.
Shlain, L. (1991). Art & physics : parallel visions in space, time, and light. Harper Perennial.
Stegner, B. (2016, August 25). Why Rocksmith 2014 is the Perfect Tool for Guitar Beginners. MUO. https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/rocksmith-perfect-tool-guitar-beginners/amp/
Firstly, I want to say that this is as much a great rhythm game as it is a great teaching tool.
I think one of the things that Rocksmith does better than any other rhythm game is that is creates achievable goals for the player. In things like Rock Band and Guitar Hero the songs themselves were the challenge and with the simplified plastic instruments there was very little that correlated to the actual instrument. With Rocksmith, you are using the actual instrument. So, the game prepares you and sets you up with achievable goals. That way you feel like you are progressing. From the basic of fretboard note arrangement for the beginner to more complex techniques for more experienced…
This was a fun topic to learn about and I enjoyed it greatly!
Belief that a skill can be mastered
One of the concepts discussed in Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology, is that “Motivation to learn is promoted when learners believe they can succeed in mastering the learning task” (Reiser, R.A, Dempsey, J. V., 2017). After reading about Rocksmith, I believe that it caters to this form of motivation and in a successful manner. By keeping track of your progress and adapting to your skill level as you improve, it seems as though it does a good job in keeping the student engaged with the content and coming back for more to see what else they are…
Rocksmith is a topic of significant relevance to me. For years, I tried to learn the guitar. I had looked up chords sheets and practiced finger positions for hours a day, but nothing stuck. Eventually, I purchased an expensive guitar that doubled as a controller for Rock Band, which offered a similar feature to Rocksmith: learning by doing in a gamified environment. I made some of my best progress while practicing with Rock Band, but soon the proprietory guitar began to wear and became unrepairable. I went on to purchase Rocksmith but never got around to starting it. This research has sparked my interest in learning once again and given me incredible insight into Rocksmith's learner engagement and motivation techniques.
Goals that are accessible
Reiser and Dempsey state that engaging in challenging activities can create feelings of relevance among students (p. 80). Motivation grows from a sense of purpose and desire to achieve a goal we set for ourselves. “Learner goals can be extrinsic to the learning event in that it is necessary to pass a class to be eligible for the desired opportunity, but a stronger level of motivation to learn is achieved through goal orientation by being engaged in actions that are personally interesting and freely chosen” (Keller, 2008, p. 177). Game-based learning fits nicely into this context because it provides high engagement opportunities, real-world application, and is tailored to the learner’s needs. Research does strongly suggest that…