New York Launches Public School Curriculum Based on Playing Games - Polidicks

[img]http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/files/articles/damon_ComingtoaSolarSystemnearyou.jpg[/img] [quote]Games have long played a role in classrooms, but next month marks the launch of the first U.S. public school curriculum based entirely on game-inspired learning. Select sixth graders can look forward to playing video games such as "Little Big Planet" and "Civilization," as well as non-digital games ranging from role-playing scenarios to board games and card games. But this goes beyond guiding your virtual settlers in "Oregon Trail" during classroom free time. The Quest to Learn (Q2L) school, based in Manhattan, hopes its guided approach can help students take on the role of explorers, mathematicians, historians, writers and evolutionary biologists. "It is important to note that Quest is not a school where children spend their day playing commercial videogames," says the Q2L website. A look at the school's curriculum confirms a far more ambitious and hands-on approach to education -- after all, the school does abide by New York State education standards. The 20 to 25 students in each class, each equipped with a laptop, attend four 90-minute periods each day, rather than study individual subjects. In one sample curriculum, students create a graphic novel based on the epic Babylonian poem "Gilgamesh," record their understanding of ancient Mesopotamian culture though geographer and anthropologist journals, and play the strategic board game "Settlers of Catan." Google Earth comes into play as a tool to explore the regions of ancient Mesopotamia. Students may also play the evolution-inspired video game "Spore," but they get equally serious time with digital tools ranging from Maya 3D modeling to Adobe Flash. If anything, Q2L students may emerge as some of the most digitally savvy pupils of their peer group. New York City education officials certainly hope that the school can represent the tip of a "transformative" revolution, according to Metropolis. Q2L will start with sixth graders and add a grade each year until it reaches the high school senior level. The school originated from the vision of a nonprofit called Institute of Play, and has support from Parsons School for Design. Financial backing to the tune of $1 million comes from donors such as the Gates Foundation, Intel, and the MacArthur Foundation, but New York City plans to take over funding by 2015. That public money also means Q2L students must take the same math and reading tests as other New York students -- after all, school isn't purely a lark. But as we know here at PopSci, getting an education need not run counter to enjoyment. [/quote] [url=http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-09/first-public-school-based-games-set-nyc-debut]Sauce[/url] Maybe this will be successful and spread

thats pretty cool i want to play little big planet but i dont own a ps3

Fuck year! And yes, I spelled that correctly

Kinda think this will work... It's better than keeping your face planted in a book against your will.

They won't learn shit.

Half-Life 2 for science class.

Sounds kinda like an expensive learning plan.....not against it though. I mean giving each kid a laptop is one thing, but providing them games to play is another. But then again, I wouldn't be surprised if there was only one PS3 for LBP and one PC to play Civilization and the rest of the games were board games.

If they do this right it will be incredibly successful. Video Games have a lot to offer in terms of education, they remain largely untapped. There's so much potential for a new interactive media, the guys in charge just gotta jump on it.

[QUOTE=Lankist;17346198]They won't learn shit.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=68624&dateline=1253081644[/img]

Yea honestly the kids won't learn shit all, compared to what they could learn the "old" way

[QUOTE=Daolpu;17346257]If they do this right it will be incredibly successful. Video Games have a lot to offer in terms of education, they remain largely untapped. There's so much potential for a new interactive media, the guys in charge just gotta jump on it.[/QUOTE] games liek arma should be used they teach shit yo

[QUOTE=Daolpu;17346257]If they do this right it will be incredibly successful. Video Games have a lot to offer in terms of education, they remain largely untapped. There's so much potential for a new interactive media, the guys in charge just gotta jump on it.[/QUOTE] Except for how the interactive media wasn't designed to educate.

[QUOTE=aman III;17346275]Yea honestly the kids won't learn shit all, compared to what they could learn the "old" way[/QUOTE] Right now, I can think about Half Life 2 and recall every single bit of each stage, all the voice acting, names, dates, events, and major landmarks. But fuck me if I can figure out the same trying to read a book. Games offer two way interaction that the gets user much more immersed in what's going on. If they apply that to school lessons in a non-terrible way like the typing tutor games I had in grade school, this would explode.

[QUOTE=Lankist;17346198]They won't learn shit.[/QUOTE] But seriously, I have to agree with this man ([img]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=68624&dateline=1253081644[/img]). Unless people start specifically making games for this purpose, I highly doubt this will be successful, and all they will do is ruin a group of kid's lives by not giving them a proper education. What university will take up a guy who's been taught like this? Oh yeah, maybe gaming design or some shit. I wonder what sort of respect that'll earn him.

[QUOTE=Leon;17346295]games liek arma should be used they teach shit yo[/QUOTE] COD4: kill watermelons be qualified for international conflict diffusion.

fdsgsddgsg.... it's only obvious that when i'm not living in my home state they do awesome shit.

What the christ :wtc:

[QUOTE=Daolpu;17346315]Right now, I can think about Half Life 2 and recall every single bit of each stage, all the voice acting, names, dates, events, and major landmarks. But fuck me if I can figure out the same trying to read a book. Games offer two way interaction that the gets user much more immersed in what's going on. If they apply that to school lessons in a non-terrible way like the typing tutor games I had in grade school, this would explode.[/QUOTE] Okay? So you can remember what you played in a game. It's like good story. I guess in a sense you could sort of apply that to english, but theres not going to be a game for calculus. When I was in grade 4 we got to learn about geography by playing "Cross Country Canada" some point and click adventure delivery game. I didn't learn shit from the game all most of the class did was try to find new ways to get pulled over by the police in game and possibly arrested for not putting your seatbelt on and getting into car accidents. I learned more from picking up an atlas.

[QUOTE=Epidemick;17346337]But seriously, I have to agree with this man ([img]http://www.facepunch.com/image.php?u=68624&dateline=1253081644[/img]). Unless people start specifically making games for this purpose, I highly doubt this will be successful, and all they will do is ruin a group of kid's lives by not giving them a proper education. What university will take up a guy who's been taught like this?[/QUOTE] It's no different than trying to teach kids science by showing them the Alien film series. Commercial games have no educational value at all. They have creative value, but no educational value. [editline]09:11PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Daolpu;17346315]Right now, I can think about Half Life 2 and recall every single bit of each stage, all the voice acting, names, dates, events, and major landmarks. But fuck me if I can figure out the same trying to read a book. Games offer two way interaction that the gets user much more immersed in what's going on. If they apply that to school lessons in a non-terrible way like the typing tutor games I had in grade school, this would explode.[/QUOTE] You realize we have been trying to achieve that "fun" effect for years. It doesn't fucking work. You can't teach kids by making a math rap. You aren't going to teach them by showing them video games.

I still remember me and everyone else in class fighting over who got to play "Operation: Neptune".

[QUOTE=aman III;17346365]Okay? So you can remember what you played in a game. It's like good story. I guess in a sense you could sort of apply that to english, but theres not going to be a game for calculus. When I was in grade 4 we got to learn about geography by playing "Cross Country Canada" some point and click adventure delivery game. I didn't learn shit from the game all most of the class did was try to find new ways to get pulled over by the police in game and possibly arrested for not putting your seatbelt on and getting into car accidents.[/QUOTE] With Maths there's gonna be no way to teach other than ways we have now. The article doesn't mention maths education from what I saw (might have to do a double take) If the developed games with absolutely accurate historical/geographic/social values and made it [B]essential[/B] for the player to know and understand the facts being presented then you'd learn something. Of course it's not that easy, and it'd take months of design and testing but I believe that it's something that could be achieved.

[QUOTE=Lankist;17346370]It's no different than trying to teach kids science by showing them the Alien film series. Commercial games have no educational value at all. They have creative value, but no educational value. [editline]09:11PM[/editline] You realize we have been trying to achieve that "fun" effect for years. It doesn't fucking work. You can't teach kids by making a math rap. You aren't going to teach them by showing them video games.[/QUOTE] Yo, yo, yo 2 + 2 = fo fo fo

I'm in High School in NYC, and this is great news to hear. I only hope that it's a plan well used.

[QUOTE=aman III;17346365]Okay? So you can remember what you played in a game. It's like good story. I guess in a sense you could sort of apply that to english, but theres not going to be a game for calculus. When I was in grade 4 we got to learn about geography by playing "Cross Country Canada" some point and click adventure delivery game. I didn't learn shit from the game all most of the class did was try to find new ways to get pulled over by the police in game and possibly arrested for not putting your seatbelt on and getting into car accidents. I learned more from picking up an atlas.[/QUOTE] they're going to make a new game with quick-time events except instead of them being quick they're calculus problems that take a day to solve

[QUOTE=Daolpu;17346419]With Maths there's gonna be no way to teach other than ways we have now. The article doesn't mention maths education from what I saw (might have to do a double take) If the developed games with absolutely accurate historical/geographic/social values and made it [B]essential[/B] for the player to know and understand the facts being presented then you'd learn something. Of course it's not that easy, and it'd take months of design and testing but I believe that it's something that could be achieved.[/QUOTE] Companies have tried things like that before and they have all failed. I don't see what is wrong with the current education system that we need to try to incorperate games into them. I grew up through the "old" system and I'm doing fine. [editline]01:15AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Arachnidus;17346436]I'm in High School in NYC, and this is great news to hear. I only hope that it's a plan well used.[/QUOTE] It wouldn't apply to high schools. Primary grades only

[B][U][I]YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! [/I][/U][/B] [img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7zDAq7RYj6s/SaLQ1wVn4jI/AAAAAAAAMZA/BT7gbch_-mk/s400/jumpstart.jpg[/img] Oh the nostalgia . . .

[QUOTE=Lankist;17346370]It's no different than trying to teach kids science by showing them the Alien film series. Commercial games have no educational value at all. They have creative value, but no educational value. [editline]09:11PM[/editline] You realize we have been trying to achieve that "fun" effect for years. It doesn't fucking work. You can't teach kids by making a math rap. You aren't going to teach them by showing them video games.[/QUOTE] I guess you have a point. What I have hopes for though is more interactive learning. Hands on and constructive learning is what works best. I just got excited at the idea of a form of that, but giving it some second though the kids would be dicks like I was in school and figure out how to exploit it.

[QUOTE=aman III;17346421]Yo, yo, yo 2 + 2 = fo fo fo[/QUOTE] This man is a musical genius.

I recall in kindergarten I would play a video game where I was a fish of some sort, and I lived in a city. I'm not quite sure it was educational.

Okay, all they need to do is remove the video games and that is an incredible curriculum. In fact, it's good with the games. Nobody will take it seriously, though. Also, this reminded me of the essay I should be doing (smashes head against wall).