Your Homework is Play Video Games 331
GuitarNeophyte writes "Four schools in the UK will be testing a new program idea to use video games for educational use. An IT researcher, along with Electronic Arts (the software game giant) are funding the proposition. 'We're looking at developing some of the softer skills that are needed for the 21st century, such as problem-solving, resilience, persistence and collaboration.' "
Ew... (Score:5, Funny)
I suppose that's possible (Score:3, Funny)
How 'bout teaching the three "R"s? (Score:3, Funny)
Ouija Board (Score:5, Funny)
All your homework are belong to us. (Score:5, Funny)
Apparently someone skipped their English homework.
--riney
Hmm... (Score:3, Funny)
*moves to UK*
Make video games cool? (Score:4, Funny)
Great idea! (Score:5, Funny)
Hey, what a great idea! We never needed those before, but NOW there's some serious demand for brand new skills like problem-solving.
Re:Ew... (Score:2, Funny)
Math Blaster FPS! (Score:2, Funny)
EA? (Score:5, Funny)
1) Homework will take 10 hours a night to complete, but "only during crunch time".
2) There are always other students willing to participate in the program if you don't want to
3) Students won't get extra credit, no matter HOW much homework they do
On a more serious note, I've been saying for YEARS that we need to focus on these so called "softer" skills. Current education is too hooked on what a child knows and how well they can memorize, not how able they are to figure things out. I realize that the subjects are supposed to be vehicles to teaching these "softer" skills, the problem is many teachers don't. They teach facts to be memorized ( especially at the higher levels ), not concepts to be thought about.
Re:Ew... (Score:2, Funny)
"But Mom, it's Sunday!"
"Do you want to let us down? Now go back and don't come out until you've put in another 5 hours, and maybe we'll let you watch TV for a couple minutes before bedtime."
Headshots for soft skills... :P (Score:5, Funny)
Resilience... Survive long enough in difficult-to-reach sniper spot to make a difference.
Persistence... Inflict as many headshots as possible without missing.
Collaboration... Can someone get me some more sniper ammo?
Re:Ew... (Score:5, Funny)
1:) milking a franchise for all its worth
2:)Maximising your profits by removing such silliness as overtime wages and workers rights
3:) how to count (One sequel , two sequels
4:) how to rush things to market to upstage your opposition
5:) how to cover up #4 with marketing
Re:Make video games cool? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I beleive this to be the future of education (Score:3, Funny)
You know, I'd love to help eliminate the growing apathy problem, but... meh...
Re:I suppose that's possible (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ew... (Score:3, Funny)
Conversation Leaked From EA HQ!! (Score:5, Funny)
Sales Rep: Sir! We have a problem, no one is buying our shitty games!
CEO: Hmmmm.... is it because 25 of our last 26 games have been sequals? [nytimes.com]
Sales Rep: That's part of the problem, sir, but all of our games contain a copious amount of um, shit.
CEO: Interesting. We need a new market approach.
Sales Rep: Sir?
CEO: We sell our games to schools, and say they our educational!
Sales Rep: Brialliant!
CEO: We have to make sure they buy our utter crap too, so let's say "all our genres have something to offer"...
Sales Rep: Oh Sir, the school districts will love it! I'll get the board on the phone right away. Hello Add'em '06!
Re:Ew... (Score:2, Funny)
If you want to teach resilience (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Ew... (Score:3, Funny)
Sample educational game (Score:5, Funny)
>>turn on computer
The computer is on.
>>play educational game
You are distracted by the bright colors and cool sound effects. You are supposedly learning problem-solving, resilience, persistence and collaboration; skills for which there is no test to measure your progress. You graduate.
>>get job
Your attempt to get a job fails. It is dark.
>>get job
Your attempt to get a job succeeds! You are now a fry cook at McDonalds.
>>get better job
Your attempt to get a better job fails. Your education never prepared you with either the intellectual tools or actual knowledge to succeed. You have no health care, you don't vote, and your kids will turn out even worse than you. Oh, and you've been eaten by a grue.
Your dead
Re:Ew... (Score:2, Funny)
Reminds me of my homework at the university... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I beleive this to be the future of education (Score:3, Funny)
Re:All your homework are belong to us. (Score:3, Funny)
Perhaps it was administered to them in the form of video games.
Re:Ew... (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Sample educational game (Score:2, Funny)
My dead what???
Damn you EA! DAAAAAAMMMMMN YOU!!!!!