Professor explains why video games should be taught in schools

David Hutchinson,  Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Brock University, and author of the book “Playing to Learn: Video Games in the Classroom,” explained why video games such as Grand Theft Auto can be used as instructional tools in today’s classrooms.

Far from encouraging students to commit murder or to drop by their sweethearts’ houses for some “Hot Coffee,” Hutchinson argued that video games, even games with mature themes, can serve as effective instructional hooks, on the condition that teachers use the games to promote critical thinking about the medium. Professor Hutchinson encouraged teachers to deal with the controversial ideas presented in video games, and to encourage students in turn to ask questions and discuss these issues in class. Students may also choose to further promote their learning by conducting research of their own.

In fact, Dr. Hutchinson has drawn from his own book regarding GTA. He has listed exercises in the publication that aim to help students effect personal lifestyle changes. They range from training students to pay more attention to their posture when they play, to cutting down on the number of hours that students play per week.

As an interesting side note, take a look at the comments that Jack Thompson posted after the interview, and a subsequent rebuttal to Mr. Thompson’s arguments. For the rest of the interview, feel free to visit the read link for more.

David Hutchinson,  Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Brock University, and author of the book “Playing to Learn: Video Games in the Classroom,” explained why video games such as Grand Theft Auto can be used as instructional tools in today’s classrooms.

Far from encouraging students to commit murder or to drop by their sweethearts’ houses for some “Hot Coffee,” Hutchinson argued that video games, even games with mature themes, can serve as effective instructional hooks, on the condition that teachers use the games to promote critical thinking about the medium. Professor Hutchinson encouraged teachers to deal with the controversial ideas presented in video games, and to encourage students in turn to ask questions and discuss these issues in class. Students may also choose to further promote their learning by conducting research of their own.

In fact, Dr. Hutchinson has drawn from his own book regarding GTA. He has listed exercises in the publication that aim to help students effect personal lifestyle changes. They range from training students to pay more attention to their posture when they play, to cutting down on the number of hours that students play per week.

As an interesting side note, take a look at the comments that Jack Thompson posted after the interview, and a subsequent rebuttal to Mr. Thompson’s arguments. For the rest of the interview, feel free to visit the read link for more.