Digital Smarts - Social Skills from Video Games

A new trend in the gaming industry is the creation of video games that teach social-emotional skills to students. Researchers are gathering together to focus on the power of play for the work of learning. One game, called “Zoo U”, uses the premise of a virtual zoo that rewards students for empathetic actions and cooperation. Numerous studies highlight the promise of building social skills with such games, but designers also are aware of the games' limitations, including kids recognizing the ulterior motive of such games and turning them off. Despite research that shows the benefits of games like this, cash strapped school districts (and parents) may not be willing to spend money on games for social skills.