Adolescents and video games: What I discovered about authentic learning and video games

In this executive position paper I describe and reflect on my own learning from participating in two projects in which video games were used to promote learning in young adolescents. The purpose of this work is to enhance my learning and professional growth as an educator, leader and programmer developer. To this end I have observed why adolescents play video games, how they play, what they play, with whom they play and how gaming can enhance classroom learning. As a result of participating in and analytically writing about these two projects, I claim and provide supporting evidence that my competence as a professional has been enhanced in these ways: First, what I have learned from spending time with these adolescents has transformed and enhanced my understanding of the potential to utilize certain video games as a complementary curriculum in educational environments. Second, my experiences with these adolescents made visible to me how they create meaning from the games they play, and how their interpersonal relationships and broader cultural and social factors gave form, texture and credence to my observations. Finally, my experiences have altered my perspective and professional development, enabling me to develop materials to help parents and educators understand some of the dynamic and positive possibilities of adolescents' video game playing.