Why use video game design in the classroom?

• Example 1: I teach a computer class and I'm looking for new ways to engage my students and teach them skills like programming, design and troubleshooting. I use or would like to use the project based learning model for my classroom.
  

• Example 2: I teach a core subject and some students especially boys have trouble being excited about the content I'm teaching. I know that they love video games and if I could tap into that interest I think that they would learn a lot more.

Before you start a game design course or use game design as a unit within another course you may want to familiarize yourself with the issues surrounding video games.

Depending on the organization you are working for use may have more or less pressure to align your gaming units with state and national standards. Fortunately game design is very flexible when it come to alignment below are some resources to help with this process.