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Are Video Games Educational

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Are Video Games Educational? (based on 27 ratings) By Jayel Gibson Video games. While they may seem like the bane of every parent's existence, they don't have to be—many of them offer unique learning features. And with increased requirements in schools placing unprecedented demands on children and parents, it may be time to start thinking about video games as teaching tools. The learning component of gaming can be optimized with parent involvement. That means understanding what makes a game both fun and educational. What makes a game fun? * Challenge and strategy – this is the core of the game. It includes the objective, the play and the scoring. The game should provide a challenge for its players and allow them to use…show more content…
This requires the use of critical thinking and math skills. Management games have elements that help teach science, social studies and language arts. Most management games are rated “E” for everyone. * Role-playing games are based on exploration and the completion of quests. Role-play games such as “Tomb Raider” and “Half Life” require reading dialogue and directions, inventory and maps. There may be elements of fighting, but in many instances the player must decide whether fighting, or avoiding the fight, is the best choice. Online versions of role-playing games include the extremely popular “World of Warcraft,” and long running “EverQuest” series. This genre is suitable for teens. * Strategy games feature an array of activities, from building historical vehicles to creating the history of new worlds or replaying the history of our own. These include games like “Model Trains 3D”, Microsoft's “Flight Simulator X,” “Empire Earth,” and “Age of Empires.” Players experiment and discover how things work, or don't work, as they set goals and labor to achieve them. Strategy games involve many of the same skills used in today's science exploration. They are suitable for most children 10 and older. For parents who are wary of just handing over the console carte-blanch, there are ways you can get involved to make sure your child is getting the most out of the learning game experience. * Play games with your child. Be
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