Comments on: Gaming school http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/07/gaming-school/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:28:29 +0000 hourly 1 By: Darren http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/07/gaming-school/#comment-34679 Darren Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:40:58 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/07/09/gaming-school/#comment-34679 And Edison thought the movie projector would revolutionize education. And then it was the computer itself. Now it's the games kids play on computers. They still sit in rows, at desks, and need pencil and paper. I'm no Luddite, but I don't see much need for any hook greater than a good teacher and any technology more impressive than an overhead projector. And Edison thought the movie projector would revolutionize education.

And then it was the computer itself.

Now it’s the games kids play on computers.

They still sit in rows, at desks, and need pencil and paper. I’m no Luddite, but I don’t see much need for any hook greater than a good teacher and any technology more impressive than an overhead projector.

]]> By: Walter E. Wallis http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/07/gaming-school/#comment-34678 Walter E. Wallis Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:41:21 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/07/09/gaming-school/#comment-34678 My grandson would kill to get into that school. My grandson would kill to get into that school.

]]> By: Nels Nelson http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/07/gaming-school/#comment-34677 Nels Nelson Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:09:00 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/07/09/gaming-school/#comment-34677 I would have loved to have gone to this school had it been around in my time. Games were what got me interested in programming, and most programmers will tell you they started out by trying to make basic games. Nowadays I make a good living designing video games, and I can honestly say that I enjoy going to work every day. Making games is not as creative ("fun and games") as most people think. The core ideas are pretty easy to come up with. It's the problem-solving, and coordinating the work of many dozens of people, that make up most of the work. There are jobs in the industry for programmers, traditional artists, 3D artists, animators, math-inclined designers, cognitive psychologists, creative writers, business majors, marketers, and more. I can see this school appealing to students who like to see a product from their work. Yes, it's not something as physical as with shop class, but it's a similar type of mind that isn't happy with just a letter grade. Doesn't New York City have magnet schools for the performing arts? I've absolutely nothing against them, but how many of those students really go on to make a living as actors, singers, or dancers? I would have loved to have gone to this school had it been around in my time. Games were what got me interested in programming, and most programmers will tell you they started out by trying to make basic games. Nowadays I make a good living designing video games, and I can honestly say that I enjoy going to work every day.

Making games is not as creative (“fun and games”) as most people think. The core ideas are pretty easy to come up with. It’s the problem-solving, and coordinating the work of many dozens of people, that make up most of the work. There are jobs in the industry for programmers, traditional artists, 3D artists, animators, math-inclined designers, cognitive psychologists, creative writers, business majors, marketers, and more.

I can see this school appealing to students who like to see a product from their work. Yes, it’s not something as physical as with shop class, but it’s a similar type of mind that isn’t happy with just a letter grade.

Doesn’t New York City have magnet schools for the performing arts? I’ve absolutely nothing against them, but how many of those students really go on to make a living as actors, singers, or dancers?

]]>