Learning to love video games

Admittedly, I have been an opponent of video games and have never really championed the idea of bringing technology into the classroom. I never "saw the light" on the connection or saw the importance. I thought of technology and video games as a solitary activity and a mindless waste of time. I admit this can in part be attributed to the fact that I never found this venue fun or engaging the way other kids did and do. However, as a teacher, I need to use materials and teach in a way that is best for my students, not myself. That being said, I read "Using the Technology of Today, in the Classroom Today" with an open mind, and I must say I "get it". I see that there are genuine skills that can be learned from those experiences, but it is the job of the teacher to help students translate concepts learned in gaming into real life. I am sad that I have been so closed minded to this venue and dismissed it as a waste of time.

The kids who will be students in my classroom as kids of the "digital youth", kids who are "normalized by technology", and I need to find ways to create a reciprocal relationship between technology and teaching. I actually wish that I could create a video game around important historical events. Turn events in time such as the revolution or civil war into SIM's concepts or war games. This would help kids see history as a interesting topic and not dull memorization. There really is SO much teachers can do with technology and this article really helped me see that. I now see ways that I could connect curriculum to technology and games. However, the school I am currently in does not have a computer center or computers for the kids to use.

Question for the future:

Writing that out I am forced again to think about the grave disadvantage certain students are at currently, and how as time progresses and teaching tools become more advanced/expensive, that certain kids are going to lose out even more. I know that teaching lessons without technology is obviously still effective, but how will this effect the educational divide that already exists?