A Novel Idea for Education

There is some debate as to how much trouble our education system is in. The RW has used it to leverage certain things like the No Child Left Behind law, which, in my opinion, not only teaches to the lowest common denominator, but does nothing to promote critical and innovating thinking.

Some may say that our education system is doing fine, but comparisons with other industrialized nations give lie to this thought. And, frankly, is "fine" good enough? Not to me it isn't, and it should be for the rest of us either. We need to do better than fine if the United States isn't destined to become a mere shadow of its former glory.

I have a rather controversial, innovative, novel idea I'd like to see put to the test. It would take some boldness on the part of educators and those with the power to make it happen, but I'm convinced there are some real possibilities here.

I'm an author now, but between the ages of 19 and 32 or so, I spent a great deal of my free time designing and play testing a Role Playing Game (RPG). Yes, yes, I was a D&D geek in my youth. Still play it on occasion now, though I've simply got way too much to do in other areas to put much time into it now.

Gamers are generally within the top 10% percentile in both mathematics and language skills.

What I've long considered is the feasibility of the formation of a charter or magnet school that uses Role Playing Games (RPGs) as an educational tool. Maybe not AD&D, specifically, for a variety of reasons, but through similar game systems. They teach operation within a framework of rules, stress the value of imagination, and can (depending on the game master) teach cooperation, problem solving, and creative use of available resources.

I believe a game utilizing time travel as a background could teach a lot about history and basic science, for example. I mean, imagine a group of American teenagers from our time catapulted back to the Revolutionary War and being led through interactions with the founding fathers. Or any other time in history, for that matter. This could also be done through the introduction of alternate history theories in which a pivotal point in the past diverged from our universe and created a brand new sequence of events.

Students could be placed in various situations where they are allowed not only to observe historical occurences, but also to interact...and thus also be able to see what possible repercussions could arise from their actions.

In my own fantasy novels, I have created a system of magic that relies on both imagination and knowledge to operate most effectively. A mage can produce a myriad of different effects, even up to and including the treatment of injuries and disease in the human body. Assuming, of course, that the character has the requisite skills to understand the workings of the human body. Biology and physiology, among other skills, are necessary for this to work. This could actually motivate kids to learn more about these things themselves, simply to give them an advantage in the game.

I've seen this theory of mine operate in the real world as well. One of the kids I used to game with, who became something of a protege of mine in many respects, is currently being wooed by Bastyr University in Seattle to enter its M.D. program. This is a kid who, when I met him, seemed to be spiraling into a life of drugs and crime. Through gaming, I was able to interdict this slide and set him on a path to bigger and better things in his life.

I'm talking about a completely new theory of education here. Role Playing wouldn't be the WHOLE of the curriculum, of course, but it could be a large part of the foundation of a new school of thought about education in general. Kids would be motivated to seek out and learn new things, and then have the opportunity to TEST that knowledge in ways they cannot in the current system.

Coupled with a desire to pass along REAL WORLD skills such as budgeting, maintaining a bank account, job search skills, positive social interaction (interpersonal communication), financial planning, home buying, and such, a curriculum that used RPGs to teach students not only to think outside the box, but to seek out and assimilate information on their own, could be the basis for a brand new way to educate our children.

One I truly believe is worthy of exploration.

Any thoughts?