"More and More, Schools Got Game" (Washington Post, 01/04/2009)

As Net-generation teachers reach out to gamers, classrooms across the country are becoming portals to elaborate virtual worlds.

Advocates argue that games teach vital skills overlooked in the age of high-stakes tests, such as teamwork, decision-making and digital literacy. And they admire the way good games challenge players just enough to keep them engaged and pushing to reach the next level.

Virtual environment boosts reading skills

For the past year and a half, students at Broad Creek Middle School in Newport, N.C., have used virtual reality technology to enhance their reading skills across the board--and the evidence suggests these efforts are paying off.

Quest Atlantis, created by Indiana University professor Sasha Barab, uses a three-dimensional multi-user virtual environment and games with storylines to help children advance academically and learn about life.