Enrolling in a game-focused school may have been just a dream for us children of the 20th century, but for the kids growing up in the 21st, this fantasy will soon become reality. Quest to Learn is New York's new school for "digital kids" in grades 6 through 12. It uses the "underlying design principles of games to create highly immersive, game-like learning experiences for students."The basic goal of Quest is to enhance traditional academics with new ways of learning through "digital media, games, online networks and mobile technologies." Students will not just utilize these new learning tools, but will also learn to design them. They can eventually take courses in computer programming, media arts and game design. Internship and mentorship programs also aim to further the learning experience, while affiliates like the Parsons New School for Design further helps a Quest student prepare for a career in new media. We already know what Parsons students are capable of, but how is the untested Quest to Learn going to fair? Hopefully these bred-for-gaming star developers of the future will give us more games like this and fewer of these. Quest opens with its first 6th grade class this fall.
[Thanks, Drew]
