Yeah, I know computer games, video games, apps can provide educational value, but gaming and screen time cause so many huge, hairy, unpleasant arguments in my house that it's hard to write about them in a positive way. Thankfully, I have friends like Shelly Kramer, Tammy Astor (coming soon) and Jennifer Comet Wagner to fill in the gap.
Jennifer Comet Wagner is the founder of Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology, a blog for parents and educators. She
recently published the book, The Gamer Generation: Reaping the Benefits of Video Games.
While writing my blog about keeping up-to-date with pop culture, technology and education, I became very interested in the benefits of video games. I recently put together an ebook which compiled numerous studies on the benefits of gaming. The largest chapter turned out to be on the educational benefits.
Why do video games work so well in helping students learn?
Leveling up in video games means that you’ve gained enough experience to move on up to the next level of the game. There is much less need for testing because getting to the next level is like passing the test. The design of the game shows that if you keep leveling up and finish, you passed.
Classes are designed to get the lowest common denominator engaged and everyone is tested at the same time after the same amount of learning, while games are an interactive medium in which players can progress at their own pace while trying and failing in a safe environment.
Traditionally students study for a test and the goal is the grade, not necessarily understanding the concepts. However with video games, students solve problems with what they know, and don’t just memorize facts.
- Decision Making and Problem Solving
The educational value of game is not based only on the content of the game, but also on the way they are played. Games force you to decide, to choose, to prioritize. All the intellectual benefits of gaming derive from this fundamental virtue, because learning how to think is ultimately learning how to make the right decisions. Many games are very complex with hundreds of commands and variables. This cultivates critical thinking.
Studies have also shown that video games can improve players’ vision, attention and certain cognitive skills. Study participants also performed better than non-gamers on certain tests of speed, accuracy and multitasking.
Risk taking is encouraged because you can just start over again. It creates opportunities for learners to fail productively — learn using the process of trial and error.
Video games provide clear goals and immediate feedback that provide the best learning experiences.
Many games require collaboration. Members of a team must work together on a problem by contributing different forms of skill and expertise. This is great training for future job success.
Games are a form of learning from experience. Players are given well-designed experiences that they cannot have in the real world. Video games intermix instruction and demonstration, a more effective learning technique than the style currently provided in most classrooms.
Video gaming has the potential to capture the interests of students and teach them difficult subjects that might not have interested them. It is a great way to integrate tech and goal-oriented learning because of their longer attention span.
Educational games are often multidisciplinary, the challenges motivate students to learn and they are learning a new literacy.
Jennifer recommends the following websites to learn more about the benefits of gaming.
Connect with your Teens through Pop Culture and Technology
Games for Learning Institute
Institute of Play
Level Up!
Mark Prensky
MindShift
So what do you think readers? Bring on the classroom games?
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