A Response to “The Effect of Videogames on Student Achievement”
In Jonathan Craton’s article “The Effect of Videogames on Student Achievement” he shows the positive and negative effects video games have on present day students. He goes into detail on the benefits and shortfalls that video games could have on education and social skills of college students. Craton also mentions the psychological effects noted from video games including games with increased amounts of violence. Despite the negative effects Craton mentions in his article, video games should be used to assist in the learning process in classrooms around the world. Craton points out “most college students have played video games, many play them regularly, and a small percentage use them as a primary means of entertainment and leisure.” It’s true that younger people are more in tune with technology than older people. I personally spend a lot of times playing video games. The next generation seems like it will be even more technologically in tune than my generation. The number of students that use technology are significant now, and will only increase as more advanced technology is created. Craton then explains how violence in video games can lead to an increase in aggressive behavior. Video games may lead to violent and aggressive behavior, but no more than TV and movies do.
…show more content…
It is obvious that the positives that can be gained from utilizing far outweigh the negatives. If schools make a more positive effort to implement video games into the education system, it will lead to an increase in student engagement and make learning more entertaining. Education can benefit from video games in the long run if utilized wisely. It is important for students to achieve a balance between education and gaming in order to achieve academic
A study published in Psychology of Popular Media Culture is proof of this theory. In this study, it is stated that 90% of pediatricians, 67% of parents, and 66% of researchers agreed that violent video games can increase child aggression. In addition to this study, a statement by six leading national medical associations, including the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association, stated, “Well over 1,000 studies - including reports from the Surgeon General's office, the National Institute of Mental Health, and numerous studies conducted by leading figures within our medical and public health organizations - our own members - point overwhelmingly to a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some
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.”
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,
They’re learning to learn.” (Gee, 399) Gee might be correct that there is potential to learn through video gaming, however, it is more the content of these games that should be held up to scrutiny. Specifically, the depth of violence and unrealistic virtual worlds involved in many of these games should indeed hold cause for concern. There are no long term studies to draw from telling us that video gaming is either a good or bad thing. But we do have common sense to draw from and we should consider what is known to date from both ends of the spectrum. The popular television show Dr. Phil recently aired an episode when a young man was so addicted to video gaming that it overtook his life. He no longer ate, showered or brushed his teeth and only slept when it physically overtook him. He mentally transformed himself into the video game, ignoring everything else. While this may be only one case, it should not be ignored. When considering the theories both Carr and Gee present, both essays are alarming and brings one not only to the conclusion that education is definitely in crisis in this country, but if were intending on video games to fill some kind of educational void, we are likely a country in
Video games can be very helpful in school. Although they have a reputation for being “brainwashing” and distracting, they actually teach the players more than you think. Contrary to popular belief, video games are educational and should be included in schools and other forms of education.
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.
In today’s society, the concerns for the effects of video games have acquired quite a terrible reputation. Worried parents around the world assume video games make their children do poorly in school, and create violent, desensitized, antisocial children. The increase in violent games, usually get the blame for aggressive behavior, shootings and violence in schools and young individuals. Most beliefs about video games effect on the brain and emotions are very common misconceptions. I strongly believe that video games are an essential tool to learning and gaining much-needed skills. When people look at the studies that have been done on video games and the brain, it will be apparent that some myths about video games have been blown out of proportion. It has come to my attention that there are studies that prove the negative effects of video games may only last the duration of game play. Kids can improve in general knowledge with educational video games like Leap Frog. Video games can train specific areas of the brain as well as increase brain flexibility and memory. Gaming actually has more beneficial effects than negative effects. Video games are excellent educational implement used in elementary schools. It is extremely helpful in brain development and helping kids with trouble reading improve. Memory retention can be improved and increased with the use of strategic, thinking games. Video games, as funny as it might sound, even promote
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.
Are there people who have never played video games at least once in their adolescence? You might recall some happy memories of playing video games with your best friends or that your parents punished you because you spent a lot of time playing video games. Most school teachers and parents are apt to think that playing video games in adolescence might only have negative impacts on adolescents. Playing video games is considered one of the top obstacles to academic performance and maintaining attention spans. Although these facts are partially true, there are positive effects of playing video games in some ways such as entertainment, development of social interaction and movement skills. This essay will cover the positive and negative effects of playing video games on adolescents’ physical, psychological/social aspects. In these divisions, I will discuss about the relationship between playing video games and the level of physical activity which is related to obese, aggressive behavior which is related to violence, social interaction and comfort effect of video games. Also, I will consider the significance of this issue.
Since the Early 70’s video games have been giving a bad name. Parents state that video games rot the minds of children and are influencing them do be violent. These accusations are far from the truth. In my research I found that there are many positive effects of gaming. Some of these effects are increased skills, creativity, general knowledge, and also help those in need. Parents can also take proper precautions and look into a game before buying it to see if it meets the criteria discussed in this paper.
“Recent contents analyses of video games show that many as 89% of games contain some violent contents” (Gentile, Lynch, Linder, Walsh 3). More than half of video games being sold around the world contain some form of violence. All of the violence involved in the video games being played by children is a pattern leading to aggression. Aggression can be caused by many things; however, violent video games are the main cause of aggression in young adults. “If a child began playing violent video games at a young age, then he might think that violence in real life is the same as the game violence and that it doesn’t have a real impact on others” (Gilad, Alto 1). Thinking that violence in the virtual world is the same as in the real world is the first step to showing aggression. Aggression in children caused by video games is the biggest effect parents and researchers worry about. Violent video games teach children that shooting and killing people are
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).
Over the last decade video games have become a huge controversy. Every day more people play games than living their lives. Which has become a big concern. Video games have disadvantages, like becoming addictive, influencing violence, and causing bad social skills. There have been many studies on the effect video games have on people’s social skills.
Have you ever wondered why young people seem to get a better grip on technology than you used to at their age? One possible answer to this question is youth’s love for video games. Since their creation in the mid-twentieth century, video games have imposed themselves as an important components of the American culture and many other cultures worldwide. They take different forms from simple cell phone games like “Candy Crush” to more complex computer games such as “League of Legend,” one of the most popular online multiplayer game in America. Witnessing the popularity of video games at such a big scale, it is not surprising to question ourselves on the possible effects of this revolutionary technology on the young generation. It has become common for young people to enjoy those video games alone or with friends at any given moment of the day. Some researchers have concluded that this global hegemony that video games evoke can contribute to the development of the youth’s curiosity and knowledge. Others, however, have found a possible correlation between video games and juvenile violence. I strongly believe that, if used adequately, video games can be beneficial for students.
In support of the belief that video games benefit people intellectually, there is a claim that game play provides cognitive, motivational, emotional, and social benefits (Granic, Lobel, Engels). In partial response, video games cannot offer cognitive benefits because they do not offer real life lessons. Yes, game play may allow someone to gain knowledge that will later be applied to the video game, but there are no positive real world techniques to be obtained. Playing video games will not increase and individuals motivational