Video games and education have for the longest time been considered at odds with each other. One is supposedly a waste of time, and the other is pretty important. But is it really black and white? Can there not be any sort of compromise? Recent developments show that it’s not the case at all.
Video games have been a major part of many students’ lives for decades now. A lot of people grew up with them and are still maintaining a regular gaming habit. Many of us still remember outsourcing our assignments to an essay writers service to spend another night scoping post-apocalyptic cities or liberating our kingdoms from endless hordes of undead. Perhaps that wasn’t the best way to spend our time, but any of those who did so would be very hard-pressed to call it wasted.
Yet, in today’s world, the stigma around video games is fading. And even respected researchers point out that there are certain benefits to gaming. Particularly when it comes to education. Here are some of the skills you can develop while off on your virtual adventures.
Focus
Video games are commonly associated with unnecessary distractions. However, if used correctly, gaming can have the exact opposite effect. Studies conducted by the researchers of the University of Arkansas show that gaming for an hour can positively influence your visual selective activity. The main challenge is to walk the fine line between firing up your neurons and getting lost in the virtual world.
There are plenty of game genres that require players to maintain focus for a prolonged amount of time. Shooters, real-time strategies, puzzles. They allow you to enter a focused state of mind. However, it can be harmful if you are unable to apply it to other problems. So, if you want to get your brain warmed up - you might want to give preference to shorter gameplay loops.
Session-based games, relatively short puzzles. If you can find a solution to a virtual problem throughout a single game session, that problem won’t be distracting you after your break is over. At the same time, this heightened state of mind will stay with you, thus helping increase your focus and awareness.
Memory
Not all games have a distinctly competitive aspect to them. Some prefer to take their players on a journey. Sometimes, such a journey just happens to be going through the vast plains of humanity’s history.
It is no secret that an aspect of gamification makes it easier to digest new information. Skimming through dusty books accompanied by the droning voice of your ancient history professor is way less exciting than taking part in the historical events yourself. That’s exactly why some video games have tremendous educational value today.
Of course, most of them take certain artistic liberties in order to make the plot a little bit more enticing to the general public. But there are also those that stick with historical details with meticulous precision. Moreover, after finishing those, you will find yourself strangely knowledgeable on the subject of, say, Venetian architecture or feudal Japanese politics. All you have to do is understand where facts end and fiction starts.
Communication
Some games challenge their players’ reflexes and problem-solving skills. Others require a great deal of cooperative effort. Their sort of low-pressure gamified setting is a perfect opportunity to develop your communication skills.
The scope of gaming challenges ranges greatly. You can find plenty of duo setups to build a bond with your partner (‘It Takes Two’, ‘A Way Out’), cooperative games that will force you to work in a big team (‘DOTA’, ‘Carrier Command’), or even free-for-all psychological games that can help you develop empathy and social awareness (‘Dread Hunger’, ‘Project Winter’).
All the soft skills acquired thanks to such games can help you immensely in the classroom as well as in the work environment. All while having a good time and bonding with friends (or in some cases making mortal enemies).
Finale Words
The times of overwhelming media videogame paranoia are behind us. Their echoing presence keeps popping out now and again. But generally, today, we are able to look at the world of virtual entertainment from a clear educated standpoint not tainted with baseless fears. And as the capabilities of hardware and software evolve, so do the games talented developers put their soul into.
Research shows that gamification of the educational process is proving incredibly effective. Many teachers already use these techniques in the classroom. It is no long shot that soon enough, games will officially play a major part in the education of new generations. So, don’t be shy of engaging in your hobby. Just remember that every cool thing can be turned awry unless used responsibly.
