Everyone knows that video games are the next big medium. Old sadsacks can try to deny it, or limit it, but that doesn’t change the reality that video games are the new medium.
So I’m really impressed that teachers are creatively learning to use video games to teach kids. Innovation in education is a great thing. We can always use more ways to engage children while educating them. Getting them involved through a common passion is usually a great way to teach.
These teachers did it. One uses the actual game to teach, one uses game mechanics to teach.
Getting Experience Points instead of grades, missions/quests instead of homework? Creative writing assignments on Twitter from the viewpoint of my characters? Reading books about similar topics (such as Tolkein)? Hell yes, sign me up. I wish we could have had this back when I was a kid.
Hattip to #edtech.
The Sound of EmCeeKhan 
I have to say that if, instead of requiring me to do homework to not lose points, I had to do it to gain “experience”, I might’ve gotten better grades. Oddly compelling semantic difference.