Civilization is such an amazing game. Great video...

If computer science were an academic area as important as math and science, the dream presented in the video to improve education could happen. This is a powerful video with ideas that are true solutions to empower students as learners.

I am a computer scientist as well as a father and I totally agree with everything said in this video.

I am also a gamer and have a big problem with other people who say that video games are bad for children. I grew up with video games and believe that the puzzles, critical thinking skills, strategy and critical problem solving skills are essential to a young persons mind. These games not only teach the player to solve problems on their own but allow them to hone those skills and become better and faster thinkers. My daughter already at the age of 1 1/2 has a learning laptop and has been introduced to learning games.

With that said I will leave you with this:

I am a product of technology and video games and believe that in the future, if children are sheltered from technology they will be left behind.

Thank you for posting the video. The contributions of teachers, students, and industry are so very important to what is possible today and in the future.

§*§New Experience§*§
I would like to go to this school. This school is better for some kids cause you have first hand experience on thing on your future like what you want to be when you get older like a cheif or a doctor. This school would be our and are kids future we want even have what we do today like copying out the book and stuff.I think one day we will have computers and telecholoy with us thought out the future like 2030.

I think it's great to be able to make "mistakes without risk" but are these environments true simulations? Sure the actions being performed are the same, but in many of these cases its the situation, especially the pressure, that can make things particularly difficult.

My worry would be that virtual learning would give an unjustified sense of confidence.

Ed Heads offer great simulations for kids. Kids can perform virtual surgeries, engineering, weather forecasting, and detective work. My elementary school students enjoy the site.

I couldn't agree more with you Justin. As a teacher of Math and Computer Science, I believe that the engagement that games offers the potential to be a very powerful form of student engagement with learning. Anyone who has seen students enjoy Math Blaster, the math based video games, knows that the first hand experience of playing a game can be used as a potent tool for learning. In fact, I have dedicated much of my time to creating a free site of math games because of how much I believe in the power of gaming in education.

you have a very good point about taking risks without mistakes and the potential harm that might cause. However I would say that giving students of any age the opportunity to experiment with different solutions to problems without the pressure of extreme failure is helpful. I actually have the other concern in that doctors, soliders, etc. that are forced to make decisions under pressure and have to worry about failure and thus begin to second guess themselves into making either the wrong to no decision.

Several comments interested me with this video:
1) One student said, "Just the sure energy of the technology creation is exciting." I think that sums up why technology is so engaging to students and why they are so connected.

2) One of the professors said, we are no longer an industrial society we are a knowledge society and as such we must be educating our students to be successful.

3) Lastly I like the idea of our students being taught to be the designers of technology more than consumers of technology.