This is every kid’s dream: go to school, learn about video games. Okay, well maybe it’s not every kid’s dream, but it was definitely mine when I was fourteen.
According to MCV, British children will soon be able to take video game history as a main course of study, which will be implemented across Britain sometime between 2008 and 2013. Talk about a lengthy window for a possible start time.
There will be courses available to take which will require students to take a look at the historical development of computer games, and a diploma available for students which requires them to critically respond to a range of computer games. Obviously the structure of the U.K. system of education differs from the U.S., but these courses will be available at both Advanced Level and for General Certificate of Secondary Education, which you can read up on if you want to know more.
Game Digest had an interesting take on the story, suggesting different games for learning about the various school subjects one can take. My favorite was suggesting that you could use World of Warcraft for Business Studies.
“The only thing you need to know about business to succeed in business, is that it is a life filled with dull monotony for minimal rewards and occasionally interspersed with half-hearted communication between fellow business types in some kind of strange language that involves a lot of acronyms,” the article reads.
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of video game media aesthetics, if only to study about the different ways humanity and cultures are represented in various game genres. Because, really, how many other ways can you find which will leave you worse off when wasting thousands of dollars at a liberal arts college?
6 Comments to British Schools to Officially Offer Video Game History as Course of Study
by: Joelteon7
On July 26, 2007 at 8:51 pm
…why o why wasn’t this around just a few years ago. That is so unbelieveably not fair, but, I wonder if any schools will actually teach it. I bet many will deem it a ‘joke’ and not support it.
by: spoot-smeg
On July 26, 2007 at 9:32 pm
aww thats not fair I would have loved to have done this.
would be funny when going for a job interview getting a GCSE and an A level in video game history
by: Jetsetlemming
On July 27, 2007 at 1:23 am
What purpose or use would learning about video game history serve, though? What real world boon do you gain?
by: Joelteon7
On July 27, 2007 at 3:59 am
Well it would be something you enjoyed, wouldn’t it? Besides, if you had a good mix of qualifications, I don’t think it’d be that bad. Look at it this way; I’m sure people would rather see a good grade in something you enjoyed than a bad grade in something you didn’t.
by: spoot-smeg
On July 27, 2007 at 8:21 am
I do know that in the games degree at university I am going to be taking they do have a module on the history of the games industry
by: Uber Gamer
On July 28, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Yo this is liek toly awesome i toly cant wait to like teech this and show the no0bs how tu liek plai