As much as it would be awesome to play games at school instead of English classes, the idea is pretty stupid. Like what's been said earlier, it would be far too distracting, and you have to consider that a lot of video games don't even try to use dramatic techniques - See: FPS.
Poll: Should games be taught at schools?
- Thread starter Firetaffer
- Start date
Recommended Videos
If the school has an emphasis on things like graphic design and multimedia, then yes. I actually made an editorial on this very topic for my high school newspaper. It would make a lot of sense at my school, because we have four different academies here, one of which is Communications, which does indeed offer graphic design and multimedia classes. Plus, even if the students didn't end up going into game design as a career, the skills involved in learning game design techniques would be valuable in other industries.
If the school has (enough resources for) other art classes like drawing, painting, literature, photography, music, etc. then sure. Why not?
There are numerous reasons why video game production isn't already taught in secondary schools:
- - Computers are expensive; not all schools already have them (atleast not in classroom quanitity).
- - Some schools are struggling to get budgets to include "core" curriculum, let alone art classes, let alone video game production.
- - Some people think they would like making video games because they like playing them, but quickly lapse into boredom when they discover the programming aspect of game production.
- - Games take a very long time to make, often without measurable, incremental progress, but schools insist on grading things constantly.
- - Only little kids and losers play video games. Everyone knows that.
There are numerous reasons why video game production isn't already taught in secondary schools:
- - Computers are expensive; not all schools already have them (atleast not in classroom quanitity).
- - Some schools are struggling to get budgets to include "core" curriculum, let alone art classes, let alone video game production.
- - Some people think they would like making video games because they like playing them, but quickly lapse into boredom when they discover the programming aspect of game production.
- - Games take a very long time to make, often without measurable, incremental progress, but schools insist on grading things constantly.
- - Only little kids and losers play video games. Everyone knows that.
Strange as it may sound, considering that post, I agree with what you've just said in your post. I don't do english, and I'd hate to study it any more than I had to (and don't even think of arguing that the ending to Lord of the Flies was good), but then I need to remember that there are some people out there who think that these things need studying and need essays writing on them, and actually get more out of literature by dissecting it. It's those people, I think, who ought to study games in the same way.SonicWaffle said:
On the one hand, I feel yes, because a serious game developer course would weed out SO many people who cant handle it. See also: The number of people studying Computer Science because they think they'll get to stuff around programming games the whole time. Sure the industry isn't a doom and gloomfest, but people don't realise how much complicated designing even a simple game can be. Even if the game turns out shit, a lot of work goes into it.
On the other hand, no, a thousand times no, oh god no. In a world where many people cant do higher levels of math and consistently fail science and language based courses, a computer developing course seems doomed to fail and in a worst case scenario will stifle the industry.
I could go into this viewpoint more, but I really can't be arsed and need to go to bed.
On the other hand, no, a thousand times no, oh god no. In a world where many people cant do higher levels of math and consistently fail science and language based courses, a computer developing course seems doomed to fail and in a worst case scenario will stifle the industry.
I could go into this viewpoint more, but I really can't be arsed and need to go to bed.
My first instict was "no", but after giving it some thought, this isn't a terrible idea. The problem here, of course, is that time spent teaching the fundamentals of games is time that could've been spent elsewhere.
However, we teach music in most basic educations worldwide. It's a medium mixing entertainment and art. We teach drama and movies in schools. Also, mediums mixing entertainment and art. And no matter what Roger Ebert says (I love the guy to death, but he's wrong on this), there is an element of artistic merit in video games. I see no reason why studying the history of videogames, the fundamentals of game design, interpretation of plots in famous video games, etc. shouldn't be at least an optional part of the curriculum in the very same way music, cinema and drama is.
However, we teach music in most basic educations worldwide. It's a medium mixing entertainment and art. We teach drama and movies in schools. Also, mediums mixing entertainment and art. And no matter what Roger Ebert says (I love the guy to death, but he's wrong on this), there is an element of artistic merit in video games. I see no reason why studying the history of videogames, the fundamentals of game design, interpretation of plots in famous video games, etc. shouldn't be at least an optional part of the curriculum in the very same way music, cinema and drama is.
I'm sure you had music class in your elementary school (or equivalent) education. Is music essential? Keep in mind that I ask this as an amateur musician for whom music is the single most important thing in life. The only people who need to know how to make music are the people who will be making music. We still teach music as early as kindergarten. In this regard, what separates music from video games?Danzaivar said:
What like in high school? No.
They just aren't relevant to anything students need to learn there and high school students are already forced to do a lot of busy work.
The only movies I ever remember watching in high school were based on Shakespeare plays or documentaries.
They just aren't relevant to anything students need to learn there and high school students are already forced to do a lot of busy work.
The only movies I ever remember watching in high school were based on Shakespeare plays or documentaries.
thats really stupid unless theres a class about computer designing so they can look at how its made or stuff like that
Well for a game theres a lot of areas.. namely:
Game Design
Narratology
Modelling (Modelling, Unwrapping, Sculpting, Texturing, Rigging)
Level Design
Programming
So perhaps lessons on narratology would probably be the best for schools, can be incorporated into narratives for all things, including games. I believe in some colleges they do go into things like Maya for modelling purposes, so yes it's sort of taught in "schools". If you want the whole meal deal then there's a bajillion universities with different games courses.
Game Design
Narratology
Modelling (Modelling, Unwrapping, Sculpting, Texturing, Rigging)
Level Design
Programming
So perhaps lessons on narratology would probably be the best for schools, can be incorporated into narratives for all things, including games. I believe in some colleges they do go into things like Maya for modelling purposes, so yes it's sort of taught in "schools". If you want the whole meal deal then there's a bajillion universities with different games courses.
It works from either perspective you look at it. If you look at it from the artistic perspective, there is precedent because there are theater and film classes. If you look at games as simple entertainment, there is still precedent because sports are taught in schools, and are nothing but very simple entertainment.
Exactly my point, as well. There are current areas in the curriculum that tell me games certainly have a place as well.2012 Wont Happen said:
[small]Nitpick: Sports classes obviously have an additional function, namely to keep kids in a reasonable shape.[/small]
Games cannot be taught. It's not like you can nip down to the field and practice circle-strafing.
Games are there to be enjoyed, not loathed like Double P.E.
Games are there to be enjoyed, not loathed like Double P.E.
now today children, we are going to study Oblivion. Who can tell me the name of the bad guys in it? Yes timmy?
uh, the mythic dawn?
no timmy, they are the pawns of the real bad guy. anyone else? yes john?
um, Mehrunes Dagon miss?
yes john, 5 gold stars for you
geek
miss! timmy just called me a geek!
now timmy just becuae u know the name of the even daedric god doesnt mean you are a geek!
that owuld be a fun class... lol
uh, the mythic dawn?
no timmy, they are the pawns of the real bad guy. anyone else? yes john?
um, Mehrunes Dagon miss?
yes john, 5 gold stars for you
geek
miss! timmy just called me a geek!
now timmy just becuae u know the name of the even daedric god doesnt mean you are a geek!
that owuld be a fun class... lol
um... I can't see a valid reason to.
I mean, sure, make a computer programming class fun, but not just have, "Video Game Theory 101". that's a waste of time. Only people at places like Full Sail(a college) should do that.
I mean, sure, make a computer programming class fun, but not just have, "Video Game Theory 101". that's a waste of time. Only people at places like Full Sail(a college) should do that.