Benefits of Video Games in Learning – Iberdrola

  Tips for using videogames in the classroom [PDF] External link, opens in new window.

VIDEOGAMES FOR LEARNING: SERIOUS GAMES

In the game-based learning field there are educational videogames known as serious games. This specific segment of learning seeks to teach students specific subjects such as languages, or to train professionals like police officers, pilots, firefighters or healthcare personnel, among others. Educational video games are a booming market and are expected to be worth $17 billion by 2023 — 485% more than in 2018 — according to forecasts published by the Statista portal. Let’s take a look at some of these products:

• Dragon Box

  is an introduction for small children to geometry.

• 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.

THE BENEFITS OF PLAYING VIDEOGAMES

The impact of video games on society has been the subject of numerous studies. For example, in 2014, Andrew Przybylski, a psychologist at the Internet Institute at Oxford University, published an study in the journal Paediatrics establishing how long children should be allowed to devote to video gaming. He concluded that those who played less than an hour were more emotionally stable, while those who played for around three hours a day developed social problems. Therefore, when it comes to video games, moderation is key, because as well as improving learning abilities, there are other benefits. 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 ROLE OF PARENTS WITH RESPECT TO VIDEO GAMES

This aside, parents continue to be worried about the impact of video games. And there is indeed some cause for concern: in 2019, the World Health Organization included “gaming disorder” as a behavioural addiction in its International Classification of Diseases. When it comes to introducing children to video games, parents should look at aspects like the PEGI video game content rating system, or its US equivalent, the ESRB, which advises parents on the suitability or otherwise of certain games by establishing a recommended age of use.

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.