There is a fundamental fact as to how humans learn and accomplish things, and how learning has evolved throughout history. From grunts and growls, cave drawings, and stick tools, to language, works of art, literature, and computers, the evolution of these processes is undeniable.

Education has also undergone a similar metamorphosis; from traditional brick and mortar schooling and lecturing, to distance and online learning, apprenticeships and computer based simulations. It is inevitable that schooling will be completed via video game platforms in the future. The sky is the limit as to what we can learn, technology is the road through which we learn, and video gaming will be the vehicle in which we travel.

There are three primary ways of learning: we learn through sight, sound, touch and movement. Traditional forms of education include but are not limited to classroom activity, a lecturer, a lesson plan, an assignment, a presentation, or a demonstration. The majority of this form of teaching is presented via sight and sound. A difference to the norm is what is considered non-traditional education. Games and play are mediums of non-traditional learning often used to aid in education. Some examples of these are flash cards and board games, developed to build math, geography, typing, language, and memory skills.

With the advancement of technology, other forms of schooling arrived like distance and online learning programs such as Rosetta Stone, University of Phoenix, and American Public University. Other educational programs in the form of computer games like Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.

In her book 'How We Learn', Marcia Connor said that "play is life's natural learning curriculum. It provokes you to constantly improvise and invent new responses, and play's random surprises keep you interested."

The rapid rate that technology has developed has led to several new outlets for learning. The computer has dramatically shrunk in size- from filling up an entire room to a handheld capable platform. Another favorable aspect to the downsizing of the computer is the fact that the price for computer ownership has also decreased, allowing for more households to have computer access. The creation of the internet and the World Wide Web has made a small world even smaller by tying a network of computers worldwide together with access to millions of hypertext documents and information. Video game systems have followed suit with computer development. Systems like Sony Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have comparable graphics, sound, hard drives, internet connection, and are DVD playable.

There are a number of different educational video games, products, and simulations currently used for teaching today. Of the well known video game systems, to include but not limited to the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS (handheld), Sony Playstation, Sony Playstation PSP (handheld), and Microsoft Xbox, each has an assortment of educational packages or brain teaser puzzle games available. The Nintendo Company appears to currently have the edge in the amount and selection of educational games, along with the Wii platform, which is designed with motion sensing controls for the touch and motion learners. Younger students can also benefit from award winning educational systems like Leapfrog and VTech Electronics and their extensive catalog of learning games and materials.

Other advanced options for specialized learning needs also exist and are in use today. PLATO Learning offers elementary, secondary, and adult education software and testing in most basic, school courses, covering a broad range of educational needs. Immersive Education offers a multi-award-winning system called Kar2ouche, with over 50 titles available. A few subjects covered are math, science, history, and the arts. Several research studies have been completed on this system, with very favorable outcomes, to include a study by Oxford University.

The benefits of educational video games are staggering. The initial observation is that the video game medium can cover all three sensory aspects of learning. Student involvement is directly proportionate to what, and how much they learn. These systems may be that key to student attention and involvement.

Other benefits include but are not limited to:

- Cost effective savings; in the production, distribution, and use of the product. Another savings approach would be seen in household tax savings, and

- The ability to home school/ have smaller class sizes, and more specialized learning.

With the good comes the bad, and there are also some negative aspects to consider when dealing with video games. The main issue is compliance with national curriculum standards. As mentioned earlier, there are programs that are in accordance with some educational regulations but these programs are meant as secondary studies. The issue of curriculum would have to be addressed but these programs may be used as a template for future guidelines. Public perception of the computer and video game console as a tool for learning is another issue. The last problem branches from negative public perception, and has to do with studies conducted on video game violence and increased aggression.

There are many hurdles to overcome and arguments to be had as to a new step in education. These hurdles are a good sign, though, because if we are to take Darwin and Wallace's evolutional theory through the process of natural selection, "certain heritable traits help individuals survive better," than one could view this as a very exciting, first step in a completely new direction. With the speed at which new technology is created, the need to learn is at an equal or faster rate. There are also the capabilities to meet the educational needs of, and provide a specialized and unique learning experience to each individual learner. Video game learning is not only inevitable, but, like evolution, is only a matter of time.