The Power of Video Games and Virtual Worlds

If anyone ever had any doubt as to how technology could actually impact the world of education, this report from NBC News should put an end to any hesitation. Imagine if we spent the same amount of funding and provided an exciting real world environment for careers beyond those featuring the military.

After getting over the shock and disappointment of seeing the army sex up war, I immediately returned to one of my longstanding beliefs. If video games and virtual worlds could cause two nineteen-year-olds to consider joining the army and face deployment to Iraq, putting life and limb on the line, imagine what appropriately-designed programming with similar levels of funding could do to motivate our young people for other meaningful careers.

Something like a simulator to excite students about becoming a pilot, or a virtual world that takes children to the bottom of the sea to explore, or perhaps another technological offering that allows other students to make a virtual trip beyond the boundaries of our planet …..

Just imagine what we could accomplish with such an effort.

In fact, dare I say it, with such a process we just might turn schools into a place where children want to be day in and day out. A place that is exciting because of what is available to them, a place where no one would consider dropping out because of what they would miss.

Just imagine.