Wow! As so often seems to happen,I have viewed this video exactly when I needed to see it. Yesterday I finished reading a book called Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization by Yong Zhao and published by ASCD. The book provides a compelling, well-researched argument for the kind of educational changes Gee advocates here. Zhao carefully counters those who would require American education to be an assembly line cranking out successful test takers. He uses his own experience with and knowledge of the Chinese educational system to suggest that we do not want to emulate those who would make all students strong test takers at the cost of leaving them ill-prepared for 21st century life in which problem solving and creativity will be necessary. The chapter on technology and its huge impact on the lives of digital natives (our children) had me spellbound. I finished the book and wondered how to get a copy into the hands of Arne Duncan.

Gee's ideas are in strong accord with Zhao's, I believe. I urge others to read this book and consider using it with those who need convincing.

Before I recently retired as principal for 17 years, I facilitated the establishment of an exercise 4 learning lab (Lawler SPARK Central) in my elementary school. The lab epitomized the key concepts of James Paul Gee's video. The lab has 25 exergaming stations including a new station called a Brain Bike that was developed by doctors and neuroscientists to put into practice the research supporting problem solving and exercise. The Brain Bike (http://www.exergamefitness.com/brainbike.htm) truly gives students an opportunity to solve problems in ways that challenge memory and processing speed.

In my 33 years as a principal the exercise 4 learning lab has been one of the best innovations I have seen impact student learning and motivation. The lab captures the benefits of video game problem solving and prepares students for learning through physcial activity that stimulates the brain. Please contact the above URL for more information about exergaming and problem solving. When Dr. Gee talks about schools getting outside the box, this lab has certainly done that. Students, staff, and parents are thrilled with the lab experience.

Before I left the school from which I just retired as prinicipal after 17 years, I initiated the establishment of an exercise 4 learning lab (Lawler SPARK Central) that epitomizes the major points that Jim Paul Gee makes in his video. The lab uses exergaming to enhance learning and to improve fitness. Many of the stations engage students in thinking and problem solving. One of the stations, Brain Bike(http://www.exergamefitness.com/brainbike.htm),is designed by medical doctors and neuroscientists to maximize problem solving in conjuction with exercise. The Brain Bike is one of 25 stations in the exercise 4 learning lab that has engaged students like no other innovation I tried in 33 years as a principal.

If you are interested in more information about the lab, you can get more details through the above URL.

http://www.exergamefitness.com/brainbike.htm

http://www.exergamefitness.com/brainbike.htm