Three Ways the Xbox is Going to Change Education

Three Ways the Xbox is Going to Change Education.

Can the Xbox (and Kinect) change the way we deliver online education? We often view the Xbox as more of a gaming device than anything else. The primary purpose of the Xbox has been to bring such into your living room. Add the Kinect and you get a great gaming experience. However, Microsoft has been expanding the uses of its device to include movies, television, and social networking. In short, the Xbox has become more than a gaming device, it has become the living room gateway to much more.

Rumors have been floating about that Microsoft will be adding internet browsing, Skype, and much more to further its "gateway" mission. As these new features are brought on board, I would suggest to you that the Xbox can be utilized as an educational tool, rather than just gaming and entertainment. There are three ways I would suggest such and there are through communication, social learning, and immersion education (yes... I made the last one up, but it applies.) Let's take a look at how these will work.

First, in order for education to work, there must be some form of communication taking place. While asynchronous works well, I believe people do like some form of synchronous. With the addition of Skype to the Xbox platform, educators and students will be able to benefit from the real time discussions, sharing, and interaction. Instructors can create webinars and group sessions, while providing the informal environment of their living room or office. Tutoring, office hours, and much more, can now take place via a Skype session. Utilizing the Kinect, provides the ability for an instructor to create live classroom sessions with minimal effort. Utilizing the hands free capabilities, one can focus on the content rather than the data entry.

Second,  as many educators and instructors will tell you, the interaction between students is a critical component of learning (social learning). Utilizing the future browser component of Xbox, as well as the social networking features, students will be able to interact and engage much like they do in a traditional classroom. I have always said that social networks, such as Facebook. Linkedin, and Ning could be great platforms for learning. Tying these features into the Xbox will provide a huge social component to the classroom.

Third, immersion education can become a much needed part of learning. The Xbox's gaming focus, can be huge asset. Gaming has come a long way since the days of PacMan and Mario Brothers (anyone still remember those?). Players can now become completely engaged in the game as it now offers 3D and multiplayer options. The Kinect allows even further immersion as it works off the body's motion and verbal ques. While it may not be a complete replacement for the practical skills, it certainly creates a well-simulated environment for students to learn. 

Now, some may argue that a gaming device is not a good platform for learning. I would beg to differ. We learn best when we become participants in the classroom and not just the passive listener. Utilizing the Xbox (and Kinect) technology takes us an even greater distance towards a true virtual classroom. Couple this with a technology that many are already familiar with, and learning success is inevitable. As educators and instructors, we should be monitoring the evolution of the gaming devices and look for ways we can integrate it into learning. Gaming technology, perhaps, will be the bridge from online learning to virtual learning. The opportunities are limitless.