Although many parents view video games as a waste of time, educators are working to harness the appeal of video games to enrich students’ academic lives. And kids don’t just learn by playing games—increasingly, the focus of school curricula and afterschool programs has been on promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and other 21st-century skills by letting kids design their own games.
Children who enjoy exercising their creativity can try their hand at designing games independently with Gamestar Mechanic. The site even includes a parent's guide to address parental concerns, from the safety of the online resource to its educational value. Teachers can learn more about teaching game design in the classroom through the teacher's guide.
If you are an educator interested in offering a course in game design at your school, you may want to check out the Globaloria curriculum. This Education Week article features the schools that have already implemented the curriculum, and you can also read more about the potential benefits of video game design on the US News & World Report website.