(Photo Credit: Minecraft/Microsoft)

Thi Video Game Promote Creative Thinking

So much for parents’ complaints that video games are a waste of time! A new study found that playing Minecraft can actually boost creative thinking among students who play the game in school.

“Minecraft offers a unique opportunity for students to display their creativity and understanding of concepts in ways that are more feasible than if they were attempted in the ‘real’ world,” the study’s authors wrote in the International Journal of Game-Based Learning. The authors studied a high school literature class that used Minecraft for class time, then had students write stories of their own. The students who had spent time playing Minecraft created stronger plots and demonstrated more creativity than students who didn’t.

“Many scholars are enthusiastic about the potential learning opportunities present in the sandbox-style gaming environment, Minecraft,” the study’s authors concluded.

The authors aren’t alone in their enthusiasm for what they call “game-based learning.” More and more schools are experimenting with allowing students to pay games like Minecraft in order to enhance creativity and critical thinking skills. So, parents, maybe you should lay off on nagging your kids to put down the remotes and let them game to their hearts’ content. In the end, it might actually make them smarter.