There is an article in the September issue of Harper’s (not online) called “Grand Theft Education” about using video games to teach reading. Actually, according to the article’s introduction, it is a panel discussion “based on a discussion that took place this summer at the New School.” The panelists include Steven Johnson, author of Everything Bad is Good for You, game designer and Theory of Fun author Raph Koster, and two reading teachers from the New York City area. It was moderated by Harper’s editor Bill Wasik.
Lately I have been talking with my colleagues at the VALRC teaching low-literacy adults how to read using video games. While this article is oriented toward teaching kids to read, I think it definitely informs using a similar approach with adults.
Of special interest in the article to me was this exchange between Koster and teacher Jane Avrich, about using an ARG to teach reading:
Avrich: My friend Griffin suggested an idea for a game to teach writing. I thought it was very clever, considering that he’s ten. He said, “What about a detective game, with questions and real clues?” Such a game would involve finding patterns and discovering evidence. It could be a great way to learn narrative…
Wasik: Could you modify a game like that to include real reading?Avrich: Yes, my idea would basically be a hybrid. In order to move to the next phase of the game, you would have to read literary texts and answer questions about them..
Koster: That’s a great idea. Have you ever heard of alternate-reality gaming?
Avrich: I don’t think so, no.
Koster: It’s a relatively new genre of game , in which the play links up with the real world in some way. The first well-known one was actually made as a promotional campaign for AI, the Spielberg/Kubrick movie…The game you’re describing sounds a lot like that. It’s an exercise in a form of literacy.
Any teacher’s out there willing to give this a try?
virtual world Second Life, but unfortunately I was unable to participate. Today he was interviewed by Brook Gladstone on the NPR show On the Media about the experience. Warner clearly sees the potential new media is having not only on the political process, but on all aspects of modern life, and when he does begin his presidential campaign in earnest, look for him to employ a lot of web-based social communication tools (like Second Life) to get his message out.