Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Video games, apps and websites are not just things that kids to do for fun anymore. One Midlands school has actually brought them into the classroom.
At 10 o'clock on Friday morning at Cross Roads Middle School, it's time for kids to put away their pencils and books and take out their video games. But it isn't recess on a rainy day--it's Dr. Cris Craft's classroom.
"They like the opportunity to pursue their own interests," explained Craft. "It's an opportunity for kids to really get some first hand experience with cutting edge technologies like building a websites or building apps for different phones and building games for the XBox 360."
The class is called media technology.
"Kids love to play video games, but they need to think about the design elements that actually go into making one as well. My goal is that kids not be just consumers of technology but creators of it."
Sixth grader Angela Fanning's interest isn't in video games, so she's working on something else.
"We learn on our own! I am doing a website," said Fanning.
It's not just the subject matter that's different but the manner in how it's taught too.
"I think the difference between all the other subjects and this class," explained Fanning, "You get to learn on your own. The teachers are not staring down at you."
"I serve more as someone to help answer questions," added Craft, "And truth be told, most of the time, I don't even know the answer! So we end up looking together."
The opportunity to create something new is endless and Craft knows that a class like this will help his kids be even more successful.
"If kids learn how to create now maybe one of these kids will design an app that puts them through college. I think these are tremendous kids that are on the cutting edge... the cusp of something incredible."
Media technology students have already launched an app that's available for Apple devices and Droids. The app lets parents know how to report absences, what to do if a child is sick, and explains how students can get their homework assignments.