Fortnite and Learning

My wife and I waited until our boys were 13 and 11 years old before allowing them to have an Xbox. Even though they were the last of their friends to get a gaming system, it still seemed early to us. I’d heard tales of gaming addiction, in particular stories of how kids can spend hours upon hours playing Fortnite, losing track of time, and squandering beautiful sunny days in favor of video games. 

When we changed our minds, we did so cautiously and mostly because we knew that without a gaming system,  they were being closed out of opportunities to socialize and connect with their friends.  Even still, the Xbox came with some guidelines, and  we needed a “family meeting” before allowing them to begin playing Fortnite. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, here’s a quick synopsis. 100 players skydive into a deserted, post-apocalyptic community where they battle other players with hopes of being the last one standing. Along the way, players hunt for resources, explore vacant buildings looking for loot, and do their best to survive. All the while a storm rages, pushing the remaining players into closer and closer proximity to each other and leading to a final battle royale. Easy to see why I was hesitant, right? 

Over the quarantine, I watched from the background as they began playing this game that I had heard so much about. To my surprise, I’ve come to see the game not as a threat to my kids but as one of the most powerful learning experiences they’ve had. And, watching them at play has led to some learning of my own.

​What they’ve learned.

• Creative expression - Creativity is valued in the Fortnite universe. From dance moves to customized avatars to game play strategies, those who excel in this game are not only the survivors but also those who do it with unique style. 
• Collaboration - My 11-year-old son is typically a bit shy and reserved… until he’s playing “duos” with his friends. With the headset on, I watch him transform to a team leader - giving directions, offering support to a teammate in need, and asking for help when he’s in trouble (often with a please and thank you). When facing different challenges, I’ve heard him identify his own strengths, knowing the tasks that he’s best suited for. Perhaps more importantly, I’ve listened as he’s called out the strengths of his teammates that compensate for areas where he struggles. 
• Vocabulary - “Camping”, “skins”, “duos”. There’s a lexicon of Fortnite that he’s mastered without flashcards or quizzes. He has learned a new vocabulary  in which words take on new meaning and give him the ability to speak fluently and knowledgeably and expertly about the game. 
• Social norms - There’s been lots of discussion at our home about social and political norms during the past four years. I’m not sure that the boys understood this concept clearly until we put it in the context of Fortnite and talked about the unwritten rules of the game that - if broken - create an unfair playing ground. Together, we could take this concept out of the digital community and consider how our own social norms promote or limit the health, safety, and efficiency of our communities. 
• Themes - Fortnite is strikingly similar to The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - all of we’ve read and watched excitedly. The game has given us the chance to talk about the theme of survival and why it captures our attention.

How they’ve learned. 

• Exploration - When Fortnite drops you onto the map, you get to choose which areas to explore. Players look for supplies in vacant buildings. Go fishing to gain resources. Open treasure chests and boxes looking for helpful items. Around every corner and behind every door is an opportunity - and players are rewarded for exploring every aspect of their world not for formulaic or simple or safe approaches to game play. 
• Apprenticeship - The other day, I was watching my younger son play and made a remark about the “move” he had just done on screen. “Oh, that’s not me”, he said. “That’s the kid who beat me. He’s really good.” One of the most interesting parts of Fortnite is that each time you lose, you assume the perspective of the person who beat you… and then the person who beats that player, and so on. The result is that beginning players get to see what success looks like in action. In each game, they engage in an apprenticeship of sorts, watching a more experienced or more skilled person as they navigate the challenges of the game. With a front row seat to  observe techniques and strategies, they now have access to those skills, as well. The game has created a loop of playing, observing, reflecting, and practicing - giving players continual opportunities for learning and growth. 
• Research - Fortnite does not come with a player’s manual. It’s not needed because Youtube allows the playing community to crowdsource all of the best ideas. From beginner guides to the most complex advice, 
• Practice, Play, Trial, and Error - I asked the boys how they “get good” at the game. Their answer was, “I guess I just try different techniques until I find what works.” The game gives them digital playground where they try new strategies, pay attention to results, adjust their technique, and repeat. 

As an educator, I’ve often heard students and parents talk about how video games can consume students time and attention, how it is challenging to set reasonable limits, and how gaming can get in the way of a healthy lifestyle. To be clear, I also share these worries and I still have reservations about the game. 

I am ever-aware of the amount of time that they are “boxing”. Beyond that, I wonder about the impact of violent video games on their mindset - even in the muted version portrayed in Fortnite. I remain cautious and can’t shake the worry of a latent, cumulative, and potentially negative impact of gaming on kids’ world view, ambition, creativity, or some other vulnerability. I’m not advocating for gaming; that’s not what this post is about. 

I’m simply noticing a phenomenon that surprised me. In recent years, I’ve  dedicated hours and energy and creative thought to guiding my own school community’s “definition of learning”. Through that work, we’ve created a powerful statement of what learning is and what it isn’t including: ​

• “Learning takes place in all aspects of our lives and extends beyond school subjects, assignments, and assessments. Learning does not only take place in schools or educational institutions.”​
• “Learning takes place in all aspects of our lives and extends beyond school subjects, assignments, and assessments.”
• “People learn because they are naturally curious, creative, competitive, and collaborative.
  

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​As I watch my kids play and explore and collaborate in this digital platform, I can’t help but notice that this is learning and wonder if the work they are completing and submitting each day in school will stick with them as much as the lessons learned while playing.