Video Games and Education

It is true that today's video games are rife with violence, sex, and other mature themes; however, their positive qualities are often overlooked. Video games require players to analyze and comprehend complex situations, as well as solve intricate problems. they present a non-linear, chaotic environment to the player, by means of utilizing more traditional, linear text. Like reading, information is conveyed to the player through text and images; however, it is presented in a format such that the reader has to actively navigate the presented data, and have fun doing so. In a sense, video games are simply an evolution of reading. Learning in video games is very non-linear and exploratory in nature. Playing video games and using complicated computer software are important, useful literacy's that, despite their merits, go largely unrecognized by the EQAO. They are, however, important. As such, the traditional view of literacy should be allowed to evolve, and the merits of postmodern, digital literacies should be recognized