It seems games are seeping even further into our education system. We've already reported the inclusion of Portal in the coursework at Wabash College, and now we learn that the University of Florida is offering a class in StarCraft -- 21st Century Skills in Starcraft (EME2040). The course, taught by doctoral student Nathaniel Poling, uses Blizzard's classic RTS to impart students with skills in the areas of "critical thinking, problem solving, resource management, and adaptive decision making."
Poling told Technology Review that StarCraft requires players to manage "a lot of different units and groups of different capacities," a skill that translates in real world business. The course -- the university's first fully online class -- requires students to play the game, watch recorded matches, and write papers "which emphasize analysis and synthesis of real/game-world concepts." Oh, the class also has no final exam and does count toward a student's GPA. In other words: enroll in this class now.
[Thanks, Kai]
Reader Comments (31)
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:52PM trendscenedental said
@(Unverified)
Good news for those of us already here, we won't have to wade through the herd of elderly people migrating down here to die!
Reply
Good news for those of us already here, we won't have to wade through the herd of elderly people migrating down here to die!
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:55PM Vcize said
@(Unverified)
Yeah, who would want to go to a school that is one of the top party schools in the nation, that is so hot that the girls barely wear any clothes, that has some of the best collegiate sports programs in the nation, that has THE best intramural sports program in the nation (in a landslide), and that, for all of that, is actually one of the top rated academic public universities as well (average SAT score for incoming freshman is over 1300).
Reply
Yeah, who would want to go to a school that is one of the top party schools in the nation, that is so hot that the girls barely wear any clothes, that has some of the best collegiate sports programs in the nation, that has THE best intramural sports program in the nation (in a landslide), and that, for all of that, is actually one of the top rated academic public universities as well (average SAT score for incoming freshman is over 1300).
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:59PM thisredengine said
@Vcize It was a joke comment. Lighten up. We can add "some of the most uptight students" to your list.
Reply
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:11PM HedonisticKai said
@HedonisticKai
You're*
^^ b4 i get grammar owned
Reply
You're*
^^ b4 i get grammar owned
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:14PM thisredengine said
@HedonisticKai You really meant "Before I get grammar owned."
Reply
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:18PM HedonisticKai said
@thisredengine
I just cant get away with anything on this site lol =P
(im at work so i gotta type quickly and alt tab if i hear the boss mans foot steps)
Reply
I just cant get away with anything on this site lol =P
(im at work so i gotta type quickly and alt tab if i hear the boss mans foot steps)
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 1:42PM HedonisticKai said
@HedonisticKai
lol i get downvoted for sending in a good news story and saying ur welcome? =P
Reply
lol i get downvoted for sending in a good news story and saying ur welcome? =P
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:15PM Leon Trotsky TDA said
And they kept telling me that StarCraft was a bad influence... Pfft
Reply
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:43PM Themoreyouknow said
Yet more proof of the bullcrap in universities. Any real strategist knows that Age of Empires requires true skills.
Oh, this must be an introductory course.
Reply
Oh, this must be an introductory course.
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:43PM daytripper said
"critical thinking, problem solving, resource management, and adaptive decision making."
Yet most hardcore Starcraft players can't move out of their moms basement.
Reply
Yet most hardcore Starcraft players can't move out of their moms basement.
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 2:22PM MooseMuffin said
@daytripper
Why expand when they have unlimited resources at their main base?
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Why expand when they have unlimited resources at their main base?
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 12:56PM mikeymilkshake said
this is bull. i played mad starcraft when i was in college and didn't get shit for it.
Reply
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 2:21PM ll features ll said
@2late2die Its about multitasking and Decision making.
Given Starcraft's perfect balance, making every unit useful even in late game (Well...... besides the scout) theres plenty of opportunities for decision making.
Plus the sheer amount of actions necessary, where every unit, structure, miner and builder needs to be babysat to be competitive, I think think thers a match in gaming for this level of multitasking.
Reply
Given Starcraft's perfect balance, making every unit useful even in late game (Well...... besides the scout) theres plenty of opportunities for decision making.
Plus the sheer amount of actions necessary, where every unit, structure, miner and builder needs to be babysat to be competitive, I think think thers a match in gaming for this level of multitasking.
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 1:52PM ll features ll said
Even if I graduated in this, it wouldnt be going in my CV.....
Reply
Posted: Aug 24th 2010 7:26PM gatotsu911 said
I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but somehow it doesn't surprise me that the teacher in question is Korean (at least, I'm pretty sure he is).
Reply
Posted: Sep 4th 2010 7:21PM radicalgeek said
I can't say I'm too surprised. Here's an article detailing 5 important skills kids can learn from Starcraft II.
http://powertothelearner.com/post/1059013281/games-teaching-kids-what-we-cant-starcraft-ii
I agree that it'd be great to have some formal discussion and reflection though, on how the skills learned in-game could apply to other areas of life.
Reply
http://powertothelearner.com/post/1059013281/games-teaching-kids-what-we-cant-starcraft-ii
I agree that it'd be great to have some formal discussion and reflection though, on how the skills learned in-game could apply to other areas of life.
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