Another Unschooling mom Kelly Dum saw kids improve their literacy, through online games such as WOW. “Several kids have learn’t to read very well while playing this game,” said Kelly Dum. The results are strikingly similar to what Smith has encountered.” If you want to classify some of the things that we’re doing while playing the World of Warcraft is, maths, reading, sociology, economics, creative writing and communications.” “These subjects are very important for doing well in life and, by playing this game; we’re trying to improve the kid’s basic fundamental, in these areas.” Unschooling’s radical approach and its extension into an online game, still make many people react with disbelief. Sam had got some harsh comments, in his profile in the gaming publication. “No, my kid’s are not dumb, they’re smart,” said Sam remembering some of the harsh comments he had received. “Warcraft is only one part of the thing that we do in our life.” Jason aged 14 years takes interest in football but occasionally logs on to WOW to do some stuff.
Perhaps the key to schooling whether online or real world is parents taking initiative to become full time teachers, helping their child to learn. “Unschooling doesn’t mean leaving their kids at home and letting their kids play games, unsupervised- that’s neglecting,” says Sam. “The social skills that kids learn are incredible and there is a type of etiquette that kids should use in order to communicate with their fellow mates,” said Kelly. “It has worked really well,” Smith said. “I hope everyone realises its efficiency.”
Entering the World of Warcraft:
“World of Warcraft known to its players as WOW, provides something of a readymade experiment for researchers to see how games can affect people. The game published by blizzard entertainment, boasts a bigger population of players than most U.S. cities, with more than 10 million subscribers worldwide, paying a monthly fee to run around the virtual land of Azeroth. Unlike many other games WOW requires players to invest, much more time in building their character. It also centres on socialization, where a player has to form teams with other players in order to defeat a major boss. To promote this fact, forums and website have sprung up where the players provide tips and discuss about their problems. Online fantasy worlds may seem too disconnected from real life to have an educational value, but John Smith with Jack Duncan at the University of Stanford have found other reasons. Their work analysed forum posting on the Wow website, and found that 85% of the gamers possessed a high level of scientific literacy. Players used reasonable arguments and brought out scientific hypothesis. “I want kids to understand that games are intellectual and about problem solving, not that different from what scientists are doing in the real world. Online games continue to gain traction as educational tools in professional circles. Smith’s research received positive buzz at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention, marking a different tone for an organization that has previously focused more on condemning video game violence. Even NASA has commissioned game developers to help create its own space themed game.
Yet turning video games a positive force requires some more information about boys. “Boys are the biggest consumers of games and its boys who’re failing from school,” said Smith. In order to prove this point, Smith showed the graduation chart and said, “The recent statistics show that only 65% of the male population is graduating from the U.S.” Smith’s afterschool class will run again the next year with an ample amount of kids, coming from places which are two hours far away. There will be class meetings on Saturdays, where Smith will talk to the parents, about their child’s progress. Like the Unschooling parents Smith has found the greatest success in following the interests of his students rather than forcing them. “I don’t want to turn the play space into work space,” Smith said.” Frankly that is not my style of education.”
