Video Game Teaching

On the Horizon (2001) 9(5), features an article by Marc Prensky entitled, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1 (Part 2 can be found in Volume 9, Number 6). Prensky describes today’s learners as fast-paced, multitasking, never-stopping, question-asking curious beings. These children have grown up in this world. They are the digital natives. These people can listen to their iPod, chat with friends (IM), have many applications open on their computer, and watch a movie at the same time. They live in a world of instant feedback. Schools, according to Prensky, are not providing what these digital natives need to succeed in their studies. His proposal towards the end of the article is to have more software developed where education takes place with video games. He contends (Part 2) that if a game is properly designed, more learning can take place. I wonder if this idea is too simple. Games can be helpful in some situations for learning, however, at some time assessment has to take place. Curricula would have to transform incredibly to accommodate such a drastic change in school. Children need to learn to read and write. Not everything can be done from a keyboard and mouse. I believe there are still some instances where content learning is all right. I would hate to have my lawyer or doctor running to the internet or a video game to help me with a legal or medical problem. Some factual knowledge is necessary. Can web tools help our children in their education? Yes. Nevertheless, I do not think we need to make all our learning in the fashion of video games. According to Prensky, I would be a digital immigrant with this attitude toward education. Who knows, if Prensky is right, I might be out of a job and all children can learn at home playing video games.