Does Gaming Facilitate Education?

It is interesting to note the gradual acceptance of gaming into society in recent times. The older generation seem to have given up on trying to tear the youth away from the games. Though this is a major improvement from years ago, it also extremely hard to convince them about the educational benefits that gaming has to offer and the tremendous positive effect it has on the youth as well as growing children.

Games are often viewed as violent and bad influences on children. But what if we could change that narrative and make gaming acceptable all round, not just as a casual thing kids participate in but as a part of everything including education so much so that it becomes a way of life.

Gaming has shown great potential in helping in education. More children find it easier to learn when the lessons are converted to games since the graphics and the fun way in which the lessons are presented help the students learn faster. As much as addiction is a problem, children who are taught through games tend to learn faster and understand what is taught easier. 

Math for example has shown the most response in this sense. Gaming makes complicated topics students would rather not learn or put effort in more fun and approachable. The technique used in gaming also helps students learn from their mistakes so that instead of feeling bad they got an answer, they strive to do better once the game restarts which is educational and self-motivating. 

Gaming also makes lessons engaging for the students.

The attention span of the student is also kept since they are doing something fun. The lessons converted to games help the students focus on something they would rather not pay attention to. When students are interested and care about a topic and in this case is gaming, they are curious and engaged. This provides a much better learning experience with better understanding and results.

Computer games can also have cognitive benefits, and improve visual processing especially for children between 5 and 12 years old. Games help to strengthen the areas of the brain that are responsible for skills such as spatial awareness which is an ability to know where your body is in space, in relation to objects or other people. This skill is what children develop as they grow and gaming can help with that.

Students’ alertness and focus may also improve as a result of games, along with their attention span and memory. According to a ‘Telegraph’ article, research shows that game-based learning allows players to concentrate more easily and focus in a way that is inherently more attuned to students’ learning patterns than a traditional classroom setting. Students must remember aspects of a game in order to solve puzzles, memorise critical sequences or visuals such as maps, and track narrative elements that advance the game. Many games necessitate problem-solving strategies that improve the student’s working memory and mental cognition.

Gaming has proved over and over that it goes beyond fun and entertainment and that when wielded properly can be a massive wave that changes the world in more ways than one.