Thing 15 - Games in Libraries

A recent article in eSchool News describes how two organizations, Kaplan and Princeton Review, are developing video games for SAT test preparation. This gives one pause for reflection. If gaming proves beneficial to our college bound students, might there be a place for it in our schools and libraries. Though many board or strategy games have long been recognized for their educational value, Scrabble or chess, for instance; computer games are often considered frivolous or even counterproductive, particularly in educational settings. The very technology we strive to learn and understand is prohibited in our schools. I believe the greater question, as we strive to understand the world of online gaming, would be how we best utilize this resource to enhance education. In the last couple years, I have seen our 6th grade math teachers use online math games to reinforce skills. Though our educational time with children is precious - it never seems like there is enough time - there are occasions when students may benefit by games that support their learning.