I Suck at This Game: “Let’s Play” Videos, Think-Alouds, and the Pedagogy of Bad Feelings

This article explores the pedagogical usefulness of “Let’s Play” videos (LPs), a wildly popular paratext in which video gamers record and narrate their gameplay. I designed implemented an LP creation assignment two English Literature classes that focused on digital children’s literature culture. imagined my as variation cognitive “think-aloud” activity, wherein students and/or instructors vocalize approach to solving particular problem. was curious how these habits mind might differ when engage with interactive texts opposed print literature. What this study exposed is centrality feelings—in particular, “bad” feelings like anxiety frustration, silences often accompany feelings—to initial stages critical thinking. When contemplated bad origins, eventually they were able offer incisive analyses texts. Ultimately, argues affective “think-and-feel-aloud” activities such exercise, allow dwell momentarily silence, create rich teaching learning opportunities.