Are Video Games the Next Big Things in K-12 Education?

Panel of Experts to Discuss New Crop of Hard but Fun Video Games for School Students, Some Developed with Federal Funds

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Apr 13, 2015, 11:11 ET

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Remember the classic line from the film War Games, "Would you like to play a game?" Across the country, millions of children in public and private schools are increasingly being asked that same question. Educational video games can make imponderable mathematical word problems fun. A game related to American History can make students better understand the Underground Railroad and the risks escaped slaves and those who helped them faced. Games are being developed across the curriculum, often through federal innovation grants and not without controversy.

On Thursday, April 16, at 10 a.m., bring your laptop, iPad or smartphone to a National Press Club Newsmakers news conference – and join the play and discussion as an expert panel discusses how challenging video games are changing the way children learn.

Panelists include: Greg Toppo, USA Today's National Education Reporter and the author of a book on educational video games to be released this month, The Game Believes in You: How Digital Play Can Make Our Kids Smarter; David Langendoen whose New York-based company Electric Funstuff develops History games; Edward Metz of the U.S. Department of Education who directs a program that awards game developers innovation grants, and Professor Joshua McCoy of American University's Gamelab.

This Newsmakers news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 16^th in the club's Zenger Room, on the 13^th floor of the National Press Building at 529 14^th Street NW, Washington DC 20045.

Like all Newsmakers events, this news conference is open to credentialed media and NPC members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.

CONTACT: Newsmaker Committee Co-Chair Jamie Horwitz, 202-549-4921, [email protected]

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SOURCE National Press Club