Don't Bother Me Mom--I'm Learning!

Marc Prensky presents the case―profoundly counter-cultural but true nevertheless―that video and computer game playing, within limits, is actually very beneficial to today's "Digital Native" kids, who are using them to prepare themselves for life in the 21st century. The reason kids are so attracted to these games, Prensky says, is that they are learning about important "future" things, from collaboration, to prudent risk taking, to strategy formulation and execution, to complex moral and ethical decisions. Prensky's arguments are backed up by university PhD's studying not just violence, but games in their totality, as well as studies of gamers who have become successful corporate workers, entrepreneurs, leaders, doctors, lawyers, scientists and other professionals.

Because most adults (including the critics) can't play the modern complex games themselves (and discount the opinions of the kids who do play them) they rely on secondhand sources of information, most of whom are sadly misinformed about both the putative harm and the true benefits of game-playing. This book is the antidote to those misinformed, bombastic sources, in the press and elsewhere. Full of common sense and practical information, it provides parents with a large number of techniques approaches they can use―both over time and right away―to improve both their understanding of games and their relationships with their kids.

The aim of this book is to give you a peek into the hidden world into which your kids disappear when they are playing games, and to help you as an adult―especially if you are a concerned parent or teacher―understand and appreciate just how much your kids are learning that is positive from their video and computer games.

In the few short hours it takes to read this book, you will learn:

What it feels like to be in the world of computer and video games

How to appreciate the breadth and depth of modern computer and video games and the ways they make your kids learn

How to understand the various useful skills your game-playing your kids are acquiring

How to understand your own kids better and build better relationships using games as a base

And, most importantly, How to augment and improve what your kids are learning by having conversations they want to have about their games.

Marc Prensky is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, visionary and innovator in the field of education. He coined the terms “Digital Native” and "Digital Immigrant" in 2001. Marc is currently the founder and Executive Director of the Global Future Education Foundation and Institute―a not-for-profit organization dedicated to a new vision of Empowering Kids to Better Their World.

Marc has spoken in 40 countries. He has authored seven books, published over 100 essays, and his writings have been translated into 11 languages. Marc’s background includes master’s degrees from Harvard and Yale, six years at the Boston Consulting Group, software game development, and teaching at all levels. Marc’s writings and speaking schedule can be found at www.marcprensky.com.

Contact Marc at marcprensky@gmail.com. See global-future-education.org, globalempoweredkids.org and bettertheirworld.org for more information.