Video Game Benefits for Kids
Learning from Video, Simulations, Multi-player, and Reality Games
Apr 28, 2009
Mitchell Wade, co-author of The Kids are Alright: How the Gamer Generation is Changing the Workplace [Harvard Business School Press, 1/1/2006], notes "When you see studies that show surgeons or pilots improve their 'real world' skills by using computer based simulations, aka games, you see the line between real and not-real is fuzzy." Wade conducted extensive research on the effects of video game playing and real world uses of games.
Volunteer Learning Environment
Video games are a learning environment that kids engage in voluntarily. Many of them are culture-free games that let kids interact with a global perspective. Games build better team spirit, cooperation, and encourage risk-taking in a risk-free environment. Children receive quick rewards for their performance and discover through repeated trial and error that it’s okay to make mistakes.
Wade discovered that lessons learned become more important than the visuals displayed. Gender typing in videos and even violence and sex in graphics are less powerful than lessons on teamwork, success, and failure. Mitchell’s study also revealed that four-fifths of young adults played video games growing up. He says, “Part of growing up is ‘norming’ to your peer group, and those who didn’t play video games find it harder to build bonds because they lack common experiences.”
Investigative learning
John Black, a professor at Teacher’s College of Columbia University said, in an April 28, 2009 interview, that he has seen kids grow in learning when they can manipulate variables or events. One example is Civilization where players can change historical facts and see how it would have impacted the world. Such games stimulate students’ interest in history. A change, such as not having Spaniards introduce horses to Native Americans, can play out with many consequences.
Games allow learning from experience rather than lecture. Games let players explore options and discover consequences. They roll into the data and learn as they investigate more possibilities.
Real World Uses
Games continue to change and mimic reality more and the use of games to improve real skills is growing.The new wave of Wii games engage physical bodies in what are called “augmented reality games”. Wii sells better, even with cartoon graphics, than other companies’ games using state of the art graphics.
Computer simulated roller coaster rides at video arcades allow players to experience and overcome fears without riding a real roller coaster. They can program simple loops or dangerous thrills and rolls.
The military has successfully used games, especially Flight Simulator, to help with eye-hand coordination in pilot training. The CIA and Army provide games to personnel to train agents and prepare soldiers for real war-game experiences.
Doctors working with young patients in pain encourage video playing because it helps block out pain without drugs. When children engage in something stimulating it takes their mind off the pain.
How Much Playtime is Enough?
A laparoscopic surgery study [February 2007, Archives of Surgery] showed improvement with only three hours of weekly play. Too much playing can cause problems. In Korea, due to sitting in the same position for long hours, some gamers developed deep vein thrombosis that caused leg clots. Children need physical activity.
Wade found that game playing happens in waves. Children may spend hours shooting baskets to improve a skill and then wane in interest once they master it. Children may also spend hours to gain computer proficiency and then move to another activity.
Interact with your sons and daughters to discover what interests them in a game, what lessons they learn, and monitor time spent playing. Play some games with your children and promote breaks that get your kids moving physically and interacting in real settings.
