Book Smart
Gaming can improve gamers' literacy skills, according to a survey by the UK's National Literacy Trust. Over 4,000 young people aged between 11 and 16 took part in the survey, which was conducted to explore the relationship between gaming and literacy engagement among school-age children.
What do the National Literacy Trust's findings show?
According to the survey, which was conducted via "wellbeing software" BounceTogether, 4 in 5 young people who play video games also read ancillary gaming materials including "in-game communications", blogs, and fanfic. 1 in 3 young people surveyed believed that gaming "makes them a better reader", while 3 in 5 young people who play games also "write something relating to video games" including scripts, advice, fanfic, or blogs and reviews at least once a month.
The link between gaming and literacy was found to be strongest in boys and reluctant readers. The survey found that boys were "much more likely" to play games than girls, with 95.2% of male respondents gaming compared to only 65.2% of female respondents. Almost 3 in 4 young people who don't like reading say that gaming is a more immersive way of drawing them into a story than books.
How will the survey be implemented?
According to a tweet by the National Literacy Trust, the organization has teamed up with light-hearted parental gaming guide Taming Gaming to create a list of games suitable for improving children's literacy. This list includes narrative experiences like Florence and Mutazione, as well as games with "in-game descriptions" of useful items and mechanics such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
If you'd like to read more about the National Literacy Trust's research into gaming and literacy among young people, then you can do so right here. You can also take a look at the official Literary Trust Twitter account and website for more info on the organization's work in the world of improving young people's literacy.
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Are you using gaming to improve your kids' literacy? Have you gotten them started on Planescape: Torment yet? Let us know in the comments below!
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Joseph Allen
Staff Writer
Dark Souls changed my life, and I'm here to spread the good news. I like pretty much all sorts of games, but I judge everything by its proximity to our Lord and saviour, Dark Souls.