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Gemma Finding Calm in
Collecting
Gemma

Gemma found the business and unpredictability of Primary School a little overwhelming. The number of other children would distract her from concentrating, but also wear her out by the end of the day.

She had always enjoyed making collections of things. Whether this was different leaves after a walk or organising her toys into groups, she would often be found off by herself creating an ordered world.

Video games weren't something she did a lot (and still doesn't). But for a time they helped her engage with learning in a way that was more ordered and less overwhelming. Whether it was the bird spotting of Alba or the insect collecting of Paradise Marsh, she would persevere at these tasks that often led to unexpected related work in reading, writing and maths.
 

Outcome
Understanding and applying the science of categorisation.


This outcome arises from the following 4 milestones over the span of 2 years, from 10 - 12 years-old:

DetailsPathway Details

Name: Gemma
Stage of Life: 10 - 12 years-old
Genres: Action, Adventure, Collecting, Communication, Fighting, Narrative, Role-Play, Sequencing, Shooting, Simulation, Stealth, Strategy and Traversal
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and iOS
 

 
Adopt Me!

Enjoying List Making

Age: 10-years-old / 01/01/2020 / 5 years ago

Play Styles: Child Plays Independently (Independent Play)

Platform: iOS

Gemma enjoyed playing Adopt Me. Rather than focusing on the most valuable and rare pets, she focused on creating a large collecting of the different animals you could care for in the game. This led to her keeping a notebook of the different creatures she had owned.


Skill
Documenting Collections
TRANSFORMATION

Gemma categorised her pet collection in the game in a notebook.

Moonglow
Bay

Embracing Collecting

Age: 11-years-old / 07/11/2021 / 3 years ago

Play Styles: Co-Op Local and Child Plays Independently (Independent Play)

Platform: Xbox One

Gemma found the structure of Moonglow Bay an ideal place for her to enjoy collecting things, in this case it was fish. She enjoyed how the game not only kept a record of what she had caught but what the size, weather, location and type of hook she had used.


Identity
Embracing The Collection Bug
TRANSFORMATION

Gemma made the connection between the collection aspect of the game and why she liked it. "I'm just someone who likes collecting things."

Paradise
Marsh
RECOMMENDED

Documenting Habitats

Age: 12-years-old / 03/04/2022 / 2 years ago

Play Styles: Child Plays Independently (Independent Play)

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Gemma enjoyed tracking down the different insects in Paradise Marsh. This led to her making notes about the different locations and times-of-day that these little creatures were found. In addition to the notes in the game itself, this led to Gemma reading up on insect life-cycles and habitats.


Knowledge
Where To Find Insects
TRANSFORMATION

Gemma learnt from the game (and the related reading) how, when and where to find insects. Which she would then do when out on walks in the woods.

Activities: Gemma found that the following related activities worked alongside playing Paradise Marsh:


The Big Book of Bugs
READING

Gemma read up on the life cycle of insects.
More information

The Legend of Zelda:
Breath of The Wild
RECOMMENDED

Discovering Taxonomy

Age: 12-years-old / 10/10/2022 / 2 years ago

Play Styles: Child Plays Independently (Independent Play)

Gemma wanted to record the different plants she found in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. Although there was a list in the game itself it wasn't ordered. After some research she discovered the taxonomy approach and set about identifying and listing the plants into Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts, Horsetails, Ferns, Conifers, Ginkgo and Flowering plants.


Skill
Using Taxonomies to Organise
TRANSFORMATION

Gemma learned how to apply a taxonomy system to the plants and trees she found int he game.

Activities: Gemma found that the following related activities worked alongside playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild:


Forest Taxonomy
TRIP

A trip to the local forest meant Gemma could expand her new taxonomy knowledge.
More information

Pathway Outcome

The culmination of the milestones in the pathway led to Gemma understanding and applying the science of categorisation. We have described it as a linear journey, but of course, there is always a fair amount of back and forth between the games they played.

Along with the main outcome Gemma also changed in the following ways:

  • Identity: Gemma made the connection between the collection aspect of the game and why she liked it. "I'm just someone who likes collecting things."
  • Knowledge: Gemma learnt from the game (and the related reading) how, when and where to find insects. Which she would then do when out on walks in the woods.
  • Skill: Gemma learned how to apply a taxonomy system to the plants and trees she found int he game.
  • Skill: Gemma categorised her pet collection in the game in a notebook.

We focus on how games contribute to this outcome, but also include related activities that play a part of this journey:

Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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