Online Worlds aren't all bad

Very often, the perception is that video games and online worlds like dinosawus are bad for children. The reasons given are usually along the lines of:

• they're anti-social because the player is sitting at the computer by themselves
• they don't get exercise
• the games are violent

As discussed in my previous post, dinosawus has taken steps to ensure that the game is wholesome for young children, that they'll be learning, and that they're encouraged to take breaks and exercise.

And now, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Constance Steinkuehler, has found that online games can create better citizens.

Her key findings were:

• Online worlds expose players to a diverse range of players from all over the world
• Players learn crucuial collaboration skills and use scientific problem-solving skills
• Discussions on message boards contained a higher percentage of constructive discussion
• "65 percent of the discussion was ;evaluative' vs. 30 percent 'absolutist' and 5 percent 'relative' " - this contrasts to studies that have "found that the U.S. population is only 15 percent evaluative, 50 percent absolutist and 35 percent relativist"

So it seems that online games do have redeeming qualities!

Of course, as with everything, the key is moderation - play with the dinosaurs for a while and then go outside and do something else.