World of Warcraft promotes learning

I was catching up on my reading this week and in the ISTE publication Learning & Leading with Technology Nov. 2009 issue I was drawn to the section on new multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs). I have long felt very strongly that these settings held enormous potential for advancing student learning. It was three years ago, as part of my doctoral studies at the University of Rochester, that my good friend Jeremiah Frink and I conducted an ethnography study at a popular gaming parlor in Rochester called Arena 51. During this study I had the opportunity to see first hand the sophisticated complexities of games that took place in MUVEs.  I was also struck by the types of kids who were playing…..they were not the loner, quiet, friendless,  introverted type kid that I envisioned.  In fact it was just the opposite, the people were all very social.  I really questioned my paradigm about gaming being all about shoot/kill and involving social misfits.  In fact what I learned was these MUVEs hold the potential to illustrate and actively engage students in a social atmosphere that takes on very sophisticated concepts.  Imagine a true MUVE through a human body with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure……or the brain…

In 2008 the Pew Internet & American Life reported on a study that found

• Game playing is universal, with almost all teens playing games and at least half playing games on a given day.
• 97% of American teens ages 12-17 play some kind of video game.
• 99% of boys say they are gamers and 94% of girls report that they play games.

Gaming is a ubiquitous part of this generation.  So I was excited to read that the World of Warcraft, arguably one of the most popular MUVE game of kids is being used by schools to explore literacy, math, writing, digital citizenship, and 21st century skills.  Suffren Middle School in Suffren NY is a leader in this endeavor and it is exciting to see them engaging students in a learning medium that will continue to have a growing presence in their lives.