Beyond Entertainment: The Transformative Power of Video Games: Canada 2024

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Shoelace Learning reports close to seven million registered users from over 100 countries, with a primary subscriber base of teachers.See it on page 6
02
Shoelace Learning's studies show that 30 minutes of play per week over 15 weeks can measurably improve the literacy skills of all learners.See it on page 6
03
Citing the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the document says Canada's senior population aged 65+ is expected to grow by 68% by 2037.See it on page 7
04
Prodigy states that approximately 96% of its students play entirely for free every year, supported by optional paid parent memberships.See it on page 16
05
In a Play to Learn survey, 39% of BC students were aware of career pathways in the game development industry before the course, rising to 78% after.See it on page 27
06
Per the document, a Mindlight trial found playing the game was as effective as CBT, with comparable reductions in child- and parent-reported anxiety.See it on page 22
07
Play to Learn had supported more than 2,300 students in 78 schools across British Columbia as of June 2022, with 87% of participants in grade 8 or younger.See it on page 27

Summary

This ESAC publication, "Beyond Entertainment: The Transformative Power of Video Games: Canada 2024", presents a set of Canadian case studies showing how video games are used in education, community connection, rehabilitation, mental health, industry, and STEM career exploration. Each case study profiles a named Canadian organization or lab and its program. The document reports that Shoelace Learning, founded in 2014, has close to seven million registered users from over 100 countries. It also states that Prodigy's free-for-students model means approximately 96% of its students play entirely for free each year. Among the rehabilitation examples, the document notes that Canada's senior population (65+) is expected to grow by 68% by 2037, citing the Canadian Institute for Health Information. For Play to Learn in British Columbia, it reports that 39% of students were aware of game development career pathways before the course, against 78% after. The document presents these findings as evidence that video games can serve education, health, and industry purposes beyond entertainment.