The Gaming of Education

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/11/18/The_Great_Brain_Debate

Media commentator Peter Williams argues that gaming can actually help kids learn and engage in their environment more deeply. Williams explains how games as varied as Donkey Kong and Fallout may have shaped his son's education and interests for the better.

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"The Great Brain Debate" from the Knowledge Cities World Summit in Melbourne asks the question: Do we need to protect our malleable brains from the information overload of our digital world? And, does it mean we're not using them to delve as deeply as we used to?

Arguing the affirmative is Professor Susan Greenfield, a British scientist, broadcaster and member of the House of Lords, who's widely praised for her research on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Opposing her, is a full-time champion of the Web and all things socially networked, Peter Williams, CEO of Deloitte Digital.

The battle is refereed by ABC News 24's Michael Rowland. - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Peter Williams is a global thought leader, speaking on innovation, the use of web technologies and social media. A chartered accountant by background, Peter moved into the web space in 1993. Williams is CEO of Deloitte Digital, and Chairman of the Deloitte Innovation council. Prior to this, Peter was CEO of the Eclipse Group, previously one of Australia's largest web development companies.

Williams has been featured in articles in the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times (UK), The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review and BRW. He has worked with clients such as BHP, Telstra, AFL, NAB, ANZ, Google, Microsoft and the Federal and Victorian Governments. He is also a Board Member of Circus Oz and Emue Technologies Pty Ltd.

Category:

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• foratv
• fora.tv
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[MisterDyslexo]

I learned to read, at a fairly high level, when I was two. Playing Fallout 2.

You know the funny part, for a super-violent and mature game, it didn't turn me psycho. Because I WAS TWO YEARS OLD, and had no idea what was going on. Videogames don't make you lose innocence, being in an abusive household, or being bullied at school, having a mean teacher, or losing a parent is what does it.

[0loveI0music]

I love this video :) :) smart :)

[tabibitosama]

I learned all my basic English growing up playing RPGs.

[bobcollier001]

Good for you, Peter Williams. My teenage son has been learning at the speed of thought since he was removed from school eight years ago to save him from the mind numbing boredom of sitting in a classroom waiting to be taught and the experience I've shared with him or watched over every day of that time has been revelatory.

[rexster63]

@cliffandy i am the speaker and i absolutely wasn't confused he had the incentive to learn to read to be able to play the game and the stuff he read was on the screen during gameplay

[cliffandy]

It seems apparent that this speaker is talking about the incentive to read by virtue of gaming over against the ability to learn to read via the game itself. He's confused.

[Neuromonger]

I wish I could have replaced most of preschool with fallout.

[stillmatic16]

@MisterDyslexo i agree completely.

[koss121]

I actually picked up Frank SInatra through Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Now I am interested in the whole Rat Pack and many other artists from that period. As well as modern pseudo big band jazz artists like Michael Buble and Harry Cormick Jr. Just saying.. :)

[koss121]

@marcostar57 You missed the point, he means from a technology standpoint.