Posted by Samuel Phineas Upham

Unconventional school structures are not nothing new, but every once in a while a new type of alternative option to traditional education will add to the roster. This time it’s Quest to Learn, a place where students get to play and build video games as part of their daily lessons.

In the article “Learning by Playing,” writer Sara Corbett introduces us to this public middle school in New York, which was founded by video game designer Katie Salen. The article provides a detailed look at the school, its founder, the curriculum, several students, and covers the pros and cons of alternative education. It also raises important questions such as, “How do schools manage to teach new media without letting go of old media? Is it possible to teach game design and still find time for “The Catcher in the Rye”?” Another good question is, “whether a skill developed by playing a game actually translates to improved abilities in other areas.”

While the article doesn’t have all the answers, it covers all the important points and reveals why the students at this school might be having the time of their lives.

Read entire article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/magazine/19video-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0