Can Video Games Be Educational free essay sample

Have you ever thought a videogame can be educational? Video games are widely known as an excellent source of entertainment, and    according to some, they can be of great help as an educational tool because of their interactivity. What a lot of people don? t know is that they can be good for those who play them for fun as well for learning. Nowadays the development of technologies is so rapid that it involves all layers of society, regardless their social status, economic position, educational level, or age. As a result the education of children, their psychological, physical and moral development are in the focus of attention and one of a very significant factor that influences their development are video and computer games. At the same time the impact of video and computer games is still obscure- and there is no common view on their effect on children. Traditionally both positive and negative effects may be found in the researches dedicated to this problem. We will write a custom essay sample on Can Video Games Be Educational or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On the one hand, there is a strong belief that video and computer games, or at least some of them, can be dangerous for children’s development because such games contribute to their anti-social behaviour. Parents focus more attention on the potential dangers than on the potential benefits of electronic video games, but these games are a normal part of modern childhood. If you know what to look for, video games can be a powerful tool to help children develop certain life skills. They can help parents choose appropriate leisure-time games, help educators seek ways to supplement- lassroom teaching, and help game developers create games that teach. Here are reasons why video games can be beneficial to your childs growth and education. Video Games Teach Problem-Solving Skills and Creativity Video games can help childrens brain development. He has to search, negotiate, plan, and try different approaches to advance. Many recent games involve planning and problem-solving. Modding, the process by which players customize gamer characters appearance and develop new game levels, also allows for creative self-expression, deep understanding of game ules and structure, and new ways of highlighting-personalities and interests. Video games dont have to be labeled educational to help children learn to make decisions, use strategies, anticipate – consequences and express their personalities. Video Games Inspire Interest in History and Culture The content of certain video games can encourage kids to read and to research. Video games such as  Age of Mythology,  Civilization, and Age of Empires  may spark- a childs interest in world history, geography, ancient cultures and international relations, especially if parents are alert topportunities. Whats more, these games often allow children to design and exchange maps or other custom content, helping them acquire creative and technical skills while having fun. Video Games Help Kids Make Friends In contra st to their parents, most young kids see video games as a social activity, not an isolating one. Video games create a common ground for young kids to make friends; allow kids to hang out-; and provide strucred time with friends. Boys were more likely to play video games with a group of friends, either in the same room or online. Plus, young boys said games were a frequent focus for conversation among their peers-.According to this research Children with mild learning disabilities were likely to choose making new friends as a reason they played video games. Video Games Encourage Exercise In my own research, players (specifically boys) talked about learning new moves from sports video games and then practicing them at the basketball court or on skateboards. Some took up new sports after being introduced to them in video games. Research showed that playing realistic sports video games lead to an increased time spent playing sports and exercising in real life. Video Games Let Kids Share the Joy of Competition Its normal and healthy for kids, especially boys, to compete with their peers as they jockey for status and recognition. Video games are a safe place to express those competitive urges- and can give children who arent good at sports a chance to excel. Video Games Give Kids a Chance to Lead When children play video games in groups, they often take turns leading and following, depending on who has specific skills needed in that game. Online multi-player games offer teens a rare chance to participate in, and sometimes lead, a diverse   mixed-age team. And nobody cares how old you are if you can lead the team to victory. Video Games Provide an Opportunity to Teach Roughly one-third of the children studied said they played video games in part because they liked to teach others how to play. Some children gain status as the go-to kid who knows how to beat the toughest parts of a game. Teaching others builds social and communication skills, as well as patience.