Learning can be really fun. We have witnessed the use of video games in classrooms for quite some time. And come December, we will find a first-of-its-kind US public school curriculum in which learning is inspired completely by games. The Manhattan-based Quest to Learn (Q2L) school is the pioneer in this regard.

The curriculum starts in grade six and a grade is added each year till it reaches the high school senior stage. So sixth graders of Q2L will soon be found playing various games like “Civilization” or “Little Big Planet” which the school authorities believe should help them assume the role of explorers, biologists, writers and mathematicians etc.

The Q2L website, however, makes it abundantly clear that it is not a school where students will always remain busy playing commercial video games. Strictly abiding by New York state education standards, the school has actually adopted a fresh approach to imparting education.

Students in each class, armed with a laptop each, have to attend four 90-minute periods each day, instead of studying specific subjects. The curricula are highly interesting, to say the least. Taste this sample. It involves students in creating a graphic novel based on “Gilgamesh,” an epic Babylonian poem. They have to express how they understand ancient Mesopotamian culture through journals and play the board game “Settlers of Catan.” For exploring the regions of ancient Mesopotamia, they will use Google Earth as a tool.

But it is never all play and no work. While students are free to play educative games, they must also learn handling various types of digital tools such as Maya 3D modeling and Adobe Flash. One thing is for sure – Q2L students will be much more digitally savvy than their friends.

A brainchild of a nonprofit Institute of Play, Q2L receives support from Parsons School for Design. Financial assistance is presently provided by donors including the Gates Foundation, Intel, and the MacArthur Foundation, but New York City may take over its funding by 2015.

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