"Researchers at the University of Rochester found that young adults who regularly played action-based video games showed better visual skills than those who didn't" (USA Today). Researchers have also found that the subjects who played video games "were better able to keep track of objects appearing simultaneously and processed fast-changing visual information more efficiently" (USA Today). Video games have made it a long way from when they first started. Some games actually teach children how to read, write, and even count. Teenagers also state that a little gaming after school actually helps take some stress off from classes and the overload of homework.
Do you remember the first time you played a video game? Was it Super Mario Brothers, Call of Duty, or Minesweeper? How about the time your parents told you that video games will rot your brain? Well forget all that, this paper is going to tell you the benefits of playing video games. My claim is that video games can help you with leadership skills, problem solving, education, and cognitive function.
While there are claims that video games are not beneficial, it is quite reasonable to assume they are. Video game-based learning has become prominent in the world of technology. Crocco states that popular video games are “problem-solving adventures that foster engagement, inquiry, and critical thinking.” The inquiry and critical thinking mentioned by Crocco, paired with the engagement of the player, allow for increased proficiency in those areas. Additionally, Bowen insists that games, including violent games, allow for an expansion of child’s learning along with health and social skills. For example, video games enhance one’s problem solving skills, reasoning, memory, and perception. Although learning is often associated with pure knowledge, children are able to learn socially as well. Since the world is becoming increasingly technology-based, it is convenient for children to learn through technology.
Some of the first video games ever made like Pac Man, Mario Bros.,Sonic the Hedgehog and Street Fighter never helped someone learn their ABC’s and 123’s which caused video games to develop a bad name like it’s “rotting kids’ brains” or distract them from more important studies but over time things change and become better and based off this website it says that “A number of recent studies have indicated that video games, even violent ones, can help kids develop essential emotional and intellectual skills that support academic achievement. These findings led many innovative teachers around the globe to recognize the benefits of gaming and include game-based learning in their curricula. However, it’s not just in-school gaming that reaps benefits. New research shows that all gaming can be positive.”
Video games can be useful to the public, teachers, writers, and developers use games in study, design, critique, and for fun. Today’s children learn at a very young age how to work a cell phone and or a tablet. Video games are introduced at an early age as trends move from attempting to incorporate games into the classroom, to developing games that focus on learning. Even snipers are put into virtual games in order to improve their skill.
With newer and more advanced technology, we need more workers/careers to support it. Video games are a method of promoting these careers. It could spike an interest within someone or may lead them to a similar career path. For example, it could lead us to jobs such as a programmer, a computer technician, video game tester, engineer and etc. Video games could allow us to have a better understanding of the virtual world and the work that goes behind it. Since technology is improving, we need to improve our knowledge of it as well. Video games can also provide us a new interest or hobby in which we could enjoy doing for the rest of our lives. With that new hobby/interest, you could make more friends that enjoy the same hobby/interest as you. Therefore a video game course could benefit our future and create a new learning path for many students.
As stated earlier, there are several good learning principles that video games teach, which in turn complements learning. Video games allow students to explore roles and environments that would be otherwise impossible in a real-world setting. This principle is identity. Students learn a new domain by first experiencing/playing a new identity (Gee, 2005). In this identity, whether it is one created by students or a pre-created one that they take on, students observe value and work in the world, the way that their new identity does. In these games, students have the freedom to make alterations to the environments that they are in. Also, there are exposures to different time periods and extraordinary events. Reflection based on this data, reveals significant usage opportunities in subjects like social studies; timelines, time periods,
The U.S. public education system has been subject for debate for many years now, budget cuts, overcrowding and lack of innovation have severely impacted the effectiveness of our schools. As a result, according to a report by Education Week, “In mathematics, 29 nations and other jurisdictions outperformed the United States by a statistically significant margin, up from 23 three years ago” (Heitin). Coupled with our 19th and 22nd ranking of literacy and science respectively, because of this, we can conclude a reform is necessary if we want to remain prevalent in tomorrow 's economy (Heitin). To get to the root of the problem and secure economic prosperity for our children, we need to reconcile the relationship between schools and students. Some of the reasons students dislike school is because it revolves around the prospect of failure, not gaining knowledge or solving problems. Therefore, this method is not very effective as it does not encourage curiosity and relies on extrinsic motivation. Many educators have played around with the idea of using video games in the classroom, kids love to play these simulations where one must learn the game and fail, in order to succeed. Even though they are usually viewed as an expensive entertainment medium, recent technological advancements in hardware capabilities have resulted in better and more immersive gameplay while lowering the cost of each unit may help bring video games into the classroom. Video games can be used as a medium to
Often through the course of history new inventions drastically change elements of society. The printing press allowed the mass production of books, leading to more education for many people. Today’s world is rapidly changing, and new technology is being invented frequently. Video games should be used in school to promote teamwork as well as teach new skills and material to the student. Additionally, video games could become an invaluable tool for teachers and educators to assess the learning style of a student, and therefore better prepare them to help that student learn. As Andy Serkis put it “Every age has its storytelling form, and video
1.8 Billion, 1.8 Billion gamers in the world! That is more than the population of India or China.
This paper will explore the psychological benefits that video games have on individuals based on research conducted online (Internet) and offline (non-Internet) . The research will focus mainly on cognitive , motivational , emotional and social benefits that individuals gain by playing video games. Furthermore it will compare gamers with those that don 't play video games or normal teaching methods and what helps better retain the skills gained. The research conducted is based on console gaming (xbox, playstation, wii) and pc. The research will focus on first person shooters, role playing, racing games.
We live in a society where technology is constantly changing the rules to the “game” and Millennials have no problem implementing it into all aspects of life. Children can easily use technology, and expect to use it in most life situations. Gee uses Good Video Games + Good Learning to examine well-designed games and the ways in which they can become a context for learning, not necessarily using game technologies in school and at work. Are video games a form of digital literacy? If so, what does that mean regarding the future of educational instruction? Prior to reading the text, I was still questioning video games positive potential; whether educational or recreational, have the potential to advance one’s cognitive development. In this collection of essays, Gee examines the many platforms in which video games are good for learning. He claims that video games are good for learning because parent and teachers can use commercial games to stimulate discussions of important social, intellectual, and academic subjects. Also, that games can create virtual worlds where players solve simulations of real-world problems and in the process learn real-world skills, knowledge, and values. (p. 69)
Trevor Komeiji February 2015 #1108 A baseball nails you right in your head. The pain is really intense, but when you settle in at home and play some of your favorite video games, the pain goes away almost immediately. You play your games that use much of your brain to concentrate like Minecraft.
Central idea: Video games are beneficial for students in the classroom and home. Using video games in schools or higher institutions can help build teamwork, foster decisions, critical and strategic skills useful in schools, work and life.
The repetition of the statement claiming that video games do not help children in their educational enterprises is unfair. There have been numerous studies conducted providing evidence that children gain structural knowledge while engaging in video game play (Pillay 2002).