There is the opinion in society that video games distract learners from the educational process and lower academic performance. Some people even perceive them as a dangerous drag provoking addiction. Experts from Pro-Papers have prepared the article which will dispel these doubts and show that gaming may have a positive correlation with learning results.
Video games have become no less popular entertainment tool than films and books, especially among young people. Developers constantly delight users with new products having juicy graphics and intriguing storylines, not only create impressive castles and fantasy universes but also change the world for better. Games are used in many industries today. Some of them have educational character.
Let’s consider the main advantages of gamification in a class and find out what potential this approach has.
Socialization
70% of gamers prefer to pass interesting quests with their friends. Team members can interact remotely, which expands borders of a physical classroom. Storylines are compiled in such way that participants should take joint decisions, work together to reach common goals or compete other groups like football players on a pitch.
This experience helps students learn to communicate with different people, distribute responsibilities, report on actions taken, form interpersonal skills which are valued in both academic and business worlds. Rules of synergy work here, which means that team efforts bring more benefits than totality of actions taken independently.
Patterns learned while playing may be shifted to academic life. For example, it is always easier to learn a tricky topic by discussing it with classmates rather than reading a textbook. Students cease to be shy when something should be asked from professors, find diplomatic ways out from awkward situations, can build stronger friendly and family relationships, find their place in society, strengthen self-esteem. In addition, communication with like-minded people brings pleasure, so learners enjoy every minute spent in a class.
Immersive learning
Young people do not like to read long novels from literature curriculum and prefer to watch films whenever possible. With today’s dynamic lifestyle, it is difficult to sit for several hours with a book in hands and turn on imagination if visuals are accessible. It is not laziness but a logical desire to dispose time wisely. Does this mean that new generations will be illiterate? Not at all. It is just worth changing approach to education somewhat.
It makes sense to visualize classical literature plots to make them more interesting and relevant for modern youth. Some advanced schools and universities use virtual reality headsets – devices able to recreate any epoch, place or universe. Events described on 100 pages may be showed in half an hour and let students understand what Charles Dickens or Agatha Christie wanted to say.
Just imagine how exciting it will be for learners to investigate a crime with Hercule Poirot. Young people will not only find out what this hero did in a novel but also do it with him, feel like a part of a story, hone critical thinking skills, learn to solve tricky tasks, be patient and persistent, seek ways out of difficult situations. Studying literature will turn from boring duty into an unforgettable adventure.
Good mood
Exams, never-ending flows of academic assignments, need to do everything on time and work at full capacity make academic life rather stressful. Students have enough reasons to worry, so if you missing your deadlines, you can buy term paper. Also, there should be something helping them to relax and forget about troubles. Video games can perform this function, have therapeutic effect on psyche, create positive mood. Half an hour in an exciting alternative universe will be enough to get rid of negative emotions and start enjoying life.
Entertaining rest ensures strong mental health and optimistic life position, helps to avoid strokes, strengthen memory, get rid of depression, take challenging situations easier. In addition, experts have proved that video games prevent stress-eat – one of the main obesity causes. It is great that all these benefits may be received in a fun and exciting way!
Individualized education
All people are different and need personalized approach to achieve the best academic results possible. With the traditional educational system, professors use the same textbooks and assignments for everyone, have no time to determine individual needs and develop appropriate curricula. Video games provide students with boundless learning resources, make it possible to study in comfortable pace without educators’ supervision and doing unloved work.
Everyone knows that computer games are divided into levels. A player starts a new level no earlier than a previous one is passed. This ensures that students master course materials to the fullest extent. This not always may be achieved at traditional lectures. Professors start a new topic even though many nuances remain unclear to students. Knowledge gaps become evident only at an exam when learners receive bad marks.