Learning Through Video Games Doesn't Have To Be Dull
Learning Through Video Games Doesn't Have To Be Dull
Learning Through Video Games Doesn't Have To Be Dull
By Kaity Kline
May 29, 2020
Summary
Learning Through Video Games Doesn't Have To Be Dull Our video gaming columnist says she was a reluctant student as a child - but video games, even non-educational ones like the Assassin's Creed series, helped her get interested in learning.
While I have never loved reading endless pages of a textbook, one thing I've always loved is video games.
With 11 main AC games all set during different times and places in history - like ancient Egypt, Greece, and America during the Revolutionary War - I was bound to learn something, even if just by accident.
So I was able to draw on my life as a pirate to fill in the map, and I got an A. I think that if you're able to get your head around it, video games - even the non-educational kind - can help kids get interested in learning something.
It worked for me - when I was seven, I learned to multiply quickly through a purely educational game called Treasure Mountain!, which had me solving math problems to progress up a mountain and collect treasure in a neverending loop.
You can learn about the Olympic Games, and how Sparta trained its soldiers in ancient Greece, with real historical figures acting as your tour guides.
Obviously, Assassin's Creed can't teach you everything you need to know about the ancient world - but the games do make that world come alive for people who are reluctant to learn, like I was.
It's a way to create your own games and worlds, and check out what other players have made.
Roblox is great for absolute beginners, and it lets kids learn how to make a lot of different game genres, including a battle royale, an adventure game, and arcade games.
Kaity Kline is a columnist for NPR's Join the Game and a producer on 1A. She is a native of New Jersey, a lifelong gamer, and a former gaming YouTuber.
Reference
Kline, K. (2020, May 29). Video Games Don't Have To Be Educational To Spark Learning. Retrieved May 30, 2020, from https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/864520287/video-games-dont-have-to-be-educational-to-spark-learning