To many, the term game evokes the image of unfettered fun, interesting and motivating experiences, rule following, and reckless abandon. Games come in many forms, from real-world games to board games to video games. Some suggest that school is simply a complex, years-long game with rules and ways to advance to higher levels. Gaming can be more than mere distraction; in the right pedagogical hands and with aroused minds, games are powerful learning tools. Gaming and schooling have much in common: Perseverance is essential, and boring tasks are more dominant than fun ones. There is at least one distinct difference, however, between schooling and play: Games couch mundane tasks within a narrative fiction that is motivating. Games can make children feel powerful because their actions ...