Should Schools Teach Gaming? | A Conversation with Dr. Khizer Khaderi & Dr. Steffen Sommer

When 89% of a population plays games and two-thirds are under 35, that's not a problem to solve - it's a medium to embrace. Today we explore a fascinating partnership between Stanford University's Human Perception Lab and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince School, where gaming isn't just motivation - it's pedagogy. Dr. Khizer Khaderi (Stanford University) & Dr. Steffen Sommer (Misk Schools, Saudi Arabia) challenge everything we think we know about digital natives, revealing how we're systematically "un-teaching" natural curiosity and forcing students to live in two worlds: digital at home, analogue at school. From Pokemon champions attending Ivy League universities to students learning astrophysics through gameplay, this conversation reveals why the future of education lies not in dragging students back to the 20th century, but in meeting them where they already are.Key Topics DiscussedThe Gaming Revolution in EducationSaudi Arabia's unique demographic: 89% of population plays games, 70% under 35Moving from "gamification" (tricking students) to "gaming for purpose"Why gaming should be treated as sport, not just entertainmentMeeting Students Where They AreThe fundamental disconnect: teaching how we think they should learn vs. how they want to learnWhy motivation problems stem from this educational misalignmentThe danger of forcing students to live in two worlds: digital at home, analogue at schoolRethinking Traditional CurriculumWhat should we stop teaching if students can look it up in seconds?The difference between memorising times tables and understanding mathematicsWhy handwriting skills matter less in a digital worldMoving from knowledge acquisition to information verification skillsInnovation and Divergent ThinkingHow we systematically "un-teach" natural curiosityThe importance of making mistakes and asking "what if?"Cross-pollination and generalist thinking in a specialised worldAcademic innocence: why younger minds generate breakthrough ideasPractical ImplementationCreating gaming suites with educational purposeForming partnerships with universities beyond just university admissionWorking with examination boards to change assessment methodsThe role of interdisciplinary teaching and teamwork in exams Resources MentionedBook: "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David EpsteinHistorical Educational Games: Oregon Trail, MULEResearch: Daphne Bavelier's work on gaming and learning (University of Rochester, 2003)Stanford Human Perception Laboratory: Stanford HPLMisk Schools: Misk Schools WebsiteEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.