US Department of Education Supports Video Games in the Classroom

Children spend more and more time playing video games as a means of entertainment, and the U.S. Department of Education sees it as an opportunity for learning according to a recent report by Polygon.

The U.S. Department of Education plans to hold a Games for Learning Summit later this month, in which students, teachers, publishers, and developers meet together to figure out new ways to introduce educational games to the classroom. It highlights an admirable attempt to use kids' interests as a way to teach them in school.

Erik Martin, the lead on Games for Learning, commented on the relationship between students and video games.

If you look at the life of a student … a lot of students play on average about 10,000 hours of video games by the time they are graduating high school. That is almost the same amount they are spending in schools. You can imagine a lot of the time which of the two activities they might feel more engaged in or more relevant. If you can take that experience of getting outside of school and make it feel just as relevant and just as compelling when they're in school learning stuff and doing stuff and doing something that's interesting and educational, that's that bridging we want to sort of provide.

Ubisoft will make an appearance at the Games for Learning Summit to talk about the teaching mechanics of Rocksmith and the health benefits of Just Dance. The company also plans to talk about Assassin's Creed, specifically as an example of games that focus on history.

Hopefully the Games for Learning Summit represents a step in the right direction. It's refreshing to see video games cited as a positive influence and a way to teach kids in school.

Upcoming Releases

Tactical, beautiful, and wholly unique, the GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS returns with Homeworld 3. Assume control and battle through fleet combat in dazzling, fully 3D space while the award-winning story unfolds on a galactic scale.
The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.
Inspired by the beauty of the natural world around us, Everwild is a brand-new game in development from Rare where unique and unforgettable experiences await in a natural and magical world. Play as an Eternal as you explore and build bonds with the world around you.

Reviews

9 Epomaker RT100 Review
Epomaker has gone big and bold with its RT100 keyboard. While other products in the company’s lineup are designed around…