Grand Theft Education

This article angered me. Although the article is set up as a debate, there is way too much agreement upon the negative portrayal of video games (even by the game developer!). Although Koster mentions some positive aspects of video gaming (a learning environment where "it's okay to fail," scaffolded play, and the social nature of gaming), some of his comments against gaming are shocking. For example, Kostor support's Zengotita's idea that, essentially, video games encourage "systems-based thinking," which means that those who play video games do not appreciate the real world as much as those who do not play. It is strange that Kostor agrees since he himself has a masters in creative writing, which probably required some appreciation of real world detail. Don't most films and novels have a system/framework? If they did not, how else would we compare and critique these other art forms? Somehow Kostor has avoided being brainwashed. What I also found repugnant was Avrich's belief that "Every year, [students'] attention spans get shorter." If that is true, how is it that some kids will play a video game for an entire day? Obviously, some students find their school work boring and meaningless. What is most problematic about this article is that the contributors seem to collectively think of video games as text books, not works of art. The authors treat video games like a new educational tool (blogs, wikis, podcasts), rather than the early stages of a new medium of art. Video games will never replace literature or film in the English classroom, but they are one more medium that engages students in a meaningful experience. Or maybe I'm saying this because I've already been brainwashed.

matt