Comparing Education to Video Games

Unlocking Learning Mastery

This article is interesting in that it compares our education system to that of a video game.  It caught my eye in my RSS feed because I had a hard time this year tapping into some of my students' needs because I am not as familiar with the video game world as I once was, and video games is what seemed to interest a lot of my students this year.  I thought the article was going to be about teaching using video games and online simulations, but instead that article compared education to a video game. 

Author, Terry Heick, claims that we need to put the learning in the hands of the students. Video games allow for students to advance through levels and see immediate rewards using their own tactics and being in control. The games don't hold students back when they are not excelling, instead they provide the gamer with more practice to complete the task.  This author makes several comparisons that led me into deeper thought regarding how we approach teaching and learning in the classroom. 

One of the points that Heick makes stuck with me."What would happen if a student was required to unlock the next assignment in a project-based learning environment? In light of students demonstrating irregular progress rates -- especially in middle school -- holding a student back because they are struggling with an idea doesn't make sense."  There are several ideas to grapple with in this article. Take a look!