Engaging students in the classroom vs. engaging students in video games? I know, “how about engaging them more in the real world vs. the virtual world” you say? Well, what if we did both? Teachers always talk about preparing students for the future, while many times teaching students today like they themselves were taught in the past. Given the “real world” becomes more and more “virtual” every day, perhaps it's time to make peace with our own nostalgic longing for the past, be more attentive to the present, and come together on how we can engage students in more real-world educational situations and simulations. The kind that they are destined to deal with such as world peace, environmental issues, and balancing governmental budgets.

To be honest it’s the kids who might make better peacemakers in this process than adults given many of the experiences they have in the virtual world. More and more games are incorporating the fundamental characteristics of public diplomacy, environmental issues, and political challenges with higher-level thinking skills, decision-making challenges, and just-in-time problem solving strategies.

Take Hydro Hijinks for example, MassBalance, Second Life from the Global Kids' Online Leadership Program and hundreds of other serious games as well as Posted by Fran Kick at 12:18:17 PM in Kids @ School (11)