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Creative Games sans Violence?

Posted by Cliff on from the engaging-the-intellect dept.

jolyon_jnr asks: "I'm looking for games to use in an unusual educational setting: a school within a Juvenile Detention Centre. I don't set policy, so the 'no violence' is a fixed criteria. I want to engage students' creativity and problem solving skills, without using 'boring educational software'. I've thought of Lemmings and The Incredible Machine. What other suggestions can you offer? Please bear in mind that most students have very low literacy levels, but will learn if motivated sufficiently."

2 of 604 comments (clear)

  1. Old board games: by pallex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Chess, backgammon, go.
    Scrabble, trivial pursuit.
    Kensington (if thats available in computer form)

  2. mudding by Cederic · · Score: 5, Insightful


    Get them into mudding. Find a mud that focusses on exploration and quest solving, rather than fighting. Then it meets the non-violence criteria.

    Several advantages to muds (MUD, MUSH, etc:
    - boosts literacy (text only feedback means you HAVE to read)
    - teaches you to type fast
    - social interaction
    - intelligent inquisitive types will want to learn how to extend the mud == learning to code == gaining rather useful skills
    - people will try to figure out how to cheat. This is healthy - it means they are applying creative thought.
    - making the kids admin the mud puts them in a position of responsibility

    ~Cederic