I am actually in my video gaming class right now. I wish they would have offered a video gaming class back in middle school. I think it's a very good idea to get kids interested in actual careers early so they don't go off to college not knowing what they want to do.

I plan on teaching my kids how to program when they're old enough, so yes, yes this is a good thing. I would totally let my kids do this.

Seeing as I'm starting for my PhD in Mathematics this fall, of course I'm going to say that this is a good thing.

And for all students going off to college, I would suggest taking as many (pure) mathematics and English courses as possible. The world can do with more people who can speak and write effectively and think rationally.

Any courses in middle and high school that offers real world experience is a good thing. Majority of school is a complete waste.

I am a huge fan of Dean Kamen's FIRST program. I would totally support more school programs / classes emphasizing science and engineering. The US needs more emphasis STEM skills. AMD is on the right track here if you ask me. Technology helped build this country and is what keeps it alive.

Here is something to think about, and this may not apply to everyone. I currently work in a job that never existed when I was going to school. I think that is going to be the case for most kids today. I think this effort is great even if it is focused on the gaming industry. Yes the traditional stuff still needs to be there, but an emphasis on other things as well, even if they are a set of electives with so many credits required from different options. As a side my oldest son who will be 12 has been on a PC since he was 2 and knows how to use 3.1, 95, 98, XP, & MAC OS7-X. Was developing his own Starcraft Maps at about 2.5-3 (granted they were not the greatest and I often times had to modify them to be playable). Anyway, because the PC is such a part of our lives unlike when I was growing up in the 80s kids these days have a greater advantage.

waikano-
Games are a great way to learn to program. Not only is it more interesting to learn over making a RSS feed or programming a calculator, it enforces OOP without even trying.

I'm a game art Design student at Art Institute Online. I think this concept is a great idea, not only do i wish i had such classes in my younger years (im 29 now). but i think giving these kind of classes would only be benifical , not only would it give kids job skills for an ever growing industry, but it would also show them ther is more to video games than just playing them , till the point it hurts you daily living. also if the classes are done right they could really teach children how to work as a team with others to create something artistic, soemthign that traditional art classes do not teach.

I think this is a poor substitute for pe and physical activity.
Hopefully this is not the intention.

As someone with a CompSci/Math degree with a minor in English I would take a contrarian view. Unless we are willing to make CS programs the duration of a medical or law degree we should really rethink the entire education system. There are simply too many sub-disciplines in computer technology to gain a sufficiently focused and yet comprehensive education (not just in computers but in the general curricula).
Yes, it can be inspirational to kids to be exposed at that age. But their focus must be on the primary skills needed to be a useful part of a civilized society, digital or not. The sciences consume so much time in college one does not have the luxury to explore the liberal arts (this is more than unfortunate, I NEEDED those literature and business course to avoid frying my brain on automata theory, ray casting and kernel design). The visitors to this site, by inclination, would tend to favor such proposals but, school at that age is more about what you need, not want.

Now, don't get me wrong, I believe that allowing students the access to courses in computer technologies is a great idea, but it should never become required.

I think it is a great Idear but do not loose site of the fisical interaction needed to socialize in a healthy upbringing
As it is now our children are spoiled to getting what they want wether its good or bad for them everything now is done through texting on mobiles television and PCs they still need to socialize with friends in group activites to learn,solve,exersize,comunicate and to activly grow outside the PC monitor in reality to form bonds well you know the rest
But that said I still think what AMD is doing in education wize is the wright way to go forward (and yes I am partialy iliterate) :-)
Gazz

I think its going to make my personal skills more useless , because kids dont ask for as much money , or need it. More job losses for me.

Im in a multimedia class now, and have been for the last 1 and half years. Granted we're not learning programing in this coarse (thats another one), but it is available and I'm attending that next year.

So far we've learnt how to make 3D animations using 3ds Max, we've also covered filming with green-screen and then importing ourselves into animations. Its totally awsome, and I think its a great opportunity.

Whilst doing this, I'm doing the Full IB and I've kept my GPA above 3.8, so im doing decent in all the other areas aswell. I feel like I've learnt a lot, and knowing how to advancedly use photoshop and other programs could be real advantagous later on.

here are 2 links to a brilliant Pizza animation and of me playing and a friend playing [HD] Guitar-Hero on the MOON!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08tsDThanK4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPyI8cBbItI

6th grade may be to late. I started coding basic in 3rd grade. As long as you can add and spell a few simple 2, 3, and 4 letter words.

Without question programing of any kind that requires language like expressions should be seen as language arts. This is as important as spanish, latin, french, and the rest in this digital age.

i'm quite surprised with positive comments here...
indeed, change has become faster almost parallel with evolving tech.
i just hope this works well and as intended, for example, only kids willing to learn such are allowed.