How can video games be educational

Extreme Event prepares learners to deal with natural disasters and encourages teamwork. Pacific gives training in leadership and team management.

Spore is useful for teaching biology, specifically the evolution of living beings. Duolingo helps in the learning of languages like English, French and German. Blood Typing, developed by the Swedish Academy, teaches about blood types and transfusions. Let's take a look at some of them: They speed up response times Researchers at Rochester University have found that they improve troubleshooting skills by posing problems that must be solved in a set time. They encourage teamwork According to Californian organisation, the Institute for the Future IFTF , multiplayer games boost teamwork in problem solving.

They stimulate creativity, focus and visual memory The University of California has found that they stimulate these aspects by setting goals that require concentration, imagination and remembering details to achieve them. They improve strategy and leadership Video games put players in command, honing their abilities to resolve disputes, interact with other players and make decisions, found Pittsburgh University. They teach languages Helsinki University found that they are useful for learning other languages through on-screen instructions, chats for communicating with other players or the narration of the story itself.

Critical thinking Monterrey Institute of Technology published an article underlining the underlying ethical, philosophical and social basis of these games, and their ability to make players think and improve their critical thinking. The magazine Psychology Today makes a set of recommendations for parents: Check the game content. Parents should exercise control over the type of video games their children are playing.

Choose educational rather than violent games. Encourage use video games colaboratives. When kids play together, it fosters social interaction and establish alliances. It is important to avoid gaming becoming an solitary activity. Establish time limits. Parents must establish rules. For example, kids can be allowed to play for a couple of hours after homework or chores, not before.

Follow the videogame manufacturer's recommendations. For example, do not sit too close to the screen, play in a well-lit room, do not play with the screen set to maximum brightness, etc. Did you find it interesting? Like the video games used at the Quest to Learn school, many GBL games are social in nature as they allow players to participate in a community setting, so to speak.

Today there are several educational video games from which to choose. There are also those popular video games out there that are typically played only for entertainment. However, on closer inspection, one can see that these games are quite educational as well. At first glance, it is apparent that Zelda games have compelling story lines and interesting characters.

But as you play the game, you are constantly challenged with puzzles that force you to think and solve problems as well. The next few sections will discuss how you can use video games to teach a variety of subjects.

Speeds up brain function : As mentioned above, video games are full of visual and audial stimuli that players must take in, interpret, and react to, often in a fraction of a second. Studies show that video games can train people to react more quickly without sacrificing accuracy. Social skills : This skill benefits most from adult supervision because students can easily get caught up in the heat of the moment.

When done correctly, video games can help players socialize as they learn to work in teams, participate in healthy competition, and bond over shared in-game experiences. When most of us were students, the best day in math class was when the teacher pulled out manipulatives. These days, manipulatives have gone virtual. Video games are a fantastic way for your visual-thinker students to practice key mathematical concepts.

And the best part is that many games are available online and for free. For example, Math Snacks is a free online platform that offers animations, games, and apps to help middle schoolers practice and better understand math skills. They offer games on mathematical expressions, variables, graphing, fractions, number lines, place value, ratios, and more. For more math-focused online games, check out this list from Interesting Engineering.