A Zócalo/Arizona State University Event

Moderated by Chris Dahlen, Kill Screen Co-Founder and Video Game Writer

For decades now, parents and teachers have begged children to put down their video game controllers and do homework, play outside, or read a book. But what if, instead of rotting our brains, video games were teaching us fundamental skills? Teachers have started using games to teach kids everything from vocabulary to problem-solving to working in groups, and their success could change the entire notion of what a school looks like. But even if these games capture students’ imaginations, balancing entertainment and pedagogy is difficult. And it’s hard to make an argument for the benefits of Grand Theft Auto. Does gaming have the potential to change formal education forever, or is it a passing trend? James Gee, a linguist at ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Richard Lemarchand, game designer and USC Interactive Media Division visiting associate professor, and Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Cal State LA psychologist and associate director of the Children’s Digital Media Center @L.A. (CSULA/UCLA), visit Zócalo to talk about whether gaming can revolutionize the way we learn.