Videogames and Learning

It has always made me upset to hear critics unjustly bash video games. Some of what I am talking about is the recent controversy of games causing violence in our society, or how they are just bad for kids to be playing in general. These arguments could maybe be used to support cases of individuals who abuse these resources, but to condemn video games as a whole is simply ridiculous. Some of my most intelligent friends have been playing games their entire lives. My brothers and I, who have turned out okay for the most part, have been playing them for years, and I can say with confidence we have not been negatively impacted by them. If anything video games can be an invaluable resource for learning. Positive learning! If you have any interest in this idea I highly recommend this blog post-

How Minecraft taught my 9-year-old son with Asperger’s to read and write

"In the game world he is confident, he dares to try things and, above all, he feels good and competent."

"My son has learned how to use YouTube, Google and Wikipedia as a natural way to look for information that can be applied in the game. He has also started to produce and publish his own videos on YouTube, teaching others about the game."

Not all videogames are linear experiences where you are mindlessly running around and shooting things. Most games out there I would call works of art. There are also some that really make you think. These are the kinds of games I like to play. One of my favorite games is called Braid. It's a puzzle game that lets you manipulate time to overcome obstacles. The visuals and music are sublime, and it's super rewarding to solve the challenging puzzles.



Another game very similar to Braid is Limbo. This game creates a dark, creepy atmosphere that goes along perfectly with the challenging puzzles. Throw in complex, open-ended conclusions to the stories of both these games, and they still have me thinking years later.



I think video games provide a level of interaction and engagement that is hard to match. What the Mother and her son from the blog post accomplished using games like Minecraft, Braid, and Limbo prove that games can be a great source for learning.