Using RPG’s as a learning tool
My brother took my laptop away for a weekend last month to network it with his friends for a weekend-long multi player gaming adventure. Normally, this isn’t worth much notice, aside from the disruption of not being able to use my computer. However, when he brought it back (and promptly fell asleep 
) he hadn’t uninstalled his games. So, out of curiosity, I started playing them.
One game in particular caught my attention. MapleStory is an online RPG in which players can choose different worlds and channels to fight monsters and progress through one of four professions. Players have a high level of interaction between each other and can chat, trade items, join parties or guilds and even marry other avatars.
While playing this game, I witnessed instances where one person would need help (usually top find a place or object) and another would actually go out of their way to take them to the place or show them where to find the item. This started me thinking if games such as MapleStory could be adapted for learning processes. The interactive nature of this game is similar to blogging in that participants learn from other participants, but the interaction between members is much more immediate than when blogging.
I think that this could be a very useful tool if an educator wants to introduce children or teenagers to e-learning. Interesting and interactive graphics, interaction with other people and some form of structure are all aspects of MapleStory that could be used to keep young people interested and motivated to learn. Virtual classes could be held in a world similar to MapleStory, or such a world could be created with the purpose of teaching students. Students could be required to form groups in order to complete a quest or task, therefore developing teamwork skills. Learning in this manner could also be beneficial because it is self-paced. Individuals interact with other, but are not required to complete the same tasks as others, and therefore can learn what they are comfortable with, when they are comfortable with it.
