While there are still some in the mainstream who unfortunately view video games as nothing more than child's play, or worse yet mindless shooting simulations, those in the know are aware of the great educational potential of certain games. Games can teach kids problem solving, history, and more. Some educators have experimented with video games in the classroom before, but the Quest to Learn (Q2L) school in New York City is taking things a step further by introducing the first U.S. public school curriculum based entirely on game-inspired learning. The idea for Q2L stemmed from a nonprofit called Institute of Play.
The school is allowing select sixth graders to play video games like LittleBigPlanet and Civilization, in addition to non-digital role-playing games, board games and card games. The idea is to help them learn about explorers, mathematicians, historians, writers and evolutionary biologists. Although playing is part of the school day, "It is important to note that Quest is not a school where children spend their day playing commercial video games," the school points out. Some students will create graphic novels, others will learn to use digital tools ranging from Maya 3D modeling to Adobe Flash.
"At Quest we believe that kids learn best when curricular content is presented in an inquiry-based format that contextualizes learning, promotes real world problem solving and creativity. We do this by creating immersive game-like learning environments. At Q2L, students learn by 'taking on' the behaviors and practices of the people in real life knowledge domains. Students learn to be biologist and historians and mathematicians instead of learning about biology or history or math. By using the structure of games, Quest to Learn creates powerful educational tools to teach its 6th-12th graders," the school's website reads. "Games work as rule-based learning systems, creating worlds in which players actively participate, use strategic thinking to make choices, solve complex problems, seek content knowledge, receive constant feedback and consider the point of view of others."
Q2L has $1 million in financial backing from the Gates Foundation, Intel, and the MacArthur Foundation, but New York City itself is supposed to take over funding by 2015. The school also has support from Parsons School for Design.
[Thanks to Popular Science]
