One modern phenomena that has educators and role models scratching their heads around the world is the “Wikipedia dilemma,” in which students frequently consult the online encyclopaedia instead of seeking out traditional sources. Almost as many educators see technology as beneficial as they do as a potential distraction. There is widespread agreement that kids’ exposure to technology is diminishing their ability to reason critically, but there is also widespread agreement that interactive media like video games and digital devices can motivate children to learn by appealing to multiple senses at once. Many educators worry about kids’ shortening attention spans, but they continue to find ways to use these tools in the classroom anyhow.
Children have a natural inclination to wonder about the world around them. Prior to being taught conventional skills like reading and writing, they are naturally inquisitive and eager to learn by exploration and experimentation. Experimentation and observation are crucial to the scientific method. As emphasised by the National Science Education Standards, “There are three distinct types of scientific knowledge and expertise that students need to acquire through their science education.
Learn Ideas and Concepts
Students need to appreciate the nature of science as a unique type of human endeavour, as well as learn the basic ideas and concepts of the scientific method. Therefore, it is important for students to learn how to design and conduct experiments to test their hypotheses and to appreciate the value of these kinds of studies. This method has been shown to dramatically improve students’ ability to grasp and remember new material “. Therefore, it is crucial to expose kids to science from a young age.
When compared to more traditional methods of teaching, digital games are more effective at capturing students’ attention and motivating them to learn. Some teachers, however, blame them for students’ ever-decreasing attention spans. This article continues with a discussion of how children in the digital age engage with games, the different categories of games, and the use of digital games as teaching tools in the classroom.
Young People of the New Age and Video Games
Nowadays, video games can cover a wider variety of topics thanks to advancements in digital technology. Today’s youth face a technology landscape that is exponentially more intricate and demanding than that of their predecessors from even half a century ago. There have been many major shifts in the way of life and the culture of today’s society, and one of these is the increased participation of children in digital gaming. Screen gamestation UK have become increasingly prevalent in children’s life due to a number of factors, including the widespread availability of electronic entertainment, the rise of two-parent households, and the dearth of recreational facilities in many urban areas. Only 20% of census blocks are located within half a mile of a block line, according to a research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010. Peer pressure is also a significant factor in today’s connected world.
The online gaming sector is expanding at a rapid rate. The popularity of electronic games among American youth is at an all-time high. It is estimated that nearly all American teenagers (97%) regularly engage in gaming of some kind. The video game industry in India has expanded greatly in recent years. Therefore, educators must seriously consider the potential of digital gaming as a pedagogical instrument. In addition, institutions are coming up with creative uses of technology to improve students’ educational opportunities.
Just what are these “Digital Games” anyway?
There is no universally accepted definition of games because it can depend on the person and their particular line of work. “System in which players participate in simulated conflict specified by rules that results in a quantifiable conclusion” is one definition of a gamestation. New elements such as simulations, interaction, augmented reality, alternative reality, collective intelligence, and sensory stimulators including sound and visual effects are being added to games as a result of technological advancements and digitalization. Portable and easily accessible are two more hallmarks of digital gaming.
Some of the most played online games are role-playing games, simulation games, and puzzle games. The player in a role-playing game assumes the persona of a fictional character as the game progresses from one level to the next, with the progression depending on the player’s actions in the previous encounter. Multiplayer role-playing games (RPGs) include Diablo III, Xenoblade, Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Mass Effect 3, while single-player RPGs include games like Dungeons & Dragons. RPGs have evolved into MMORPGs, or massively multiplayer online role-playing games, in which a huge number of players collaborate in a shared virtual environment.
Environment
The virtual environments of simulation games are as close to reality as possible. The results will be realistic simulations of possible outcomes based on the player’s choices and reactions in a similar circumstance in the real world. Simulation games are popular for both teaching and analysis purposes because of the unique experiences they provide to each player. Popular simulation games like Flight Simulator X, Live for Speed (LFS), and Need for Speed have been around for a while. The puzzle subgenre of video games is characterise by an emphasis on analysis and problem solving, with varied degrees of challenge depending on the specifics of the game. Simple puzzle games include crosswords and treasure hunts, both of which can be find in both physical and digital formats.
Players in any form of digital game are actively encouraged to interact with one another. Some games necessitate teamwork to complete, while others are socially acceptable for discussion or analysis. Despite accusations that certain games feature gratuitous violence, a well-designed game can speed up the thought process by inspiring, engaging, involving creativity, and generating a meta-game, or a set of social interactions inspired and enhanced within or outside the game. Children’s development and competitiveness can be boosted by including digital gaming into the core curriculum.
Why and Why Not to Use Digital Games in the Classroom?
Mentors and mentees alike will need to find ways to incorporate modern technologies into their lessons in order to meet the needs of the 21st century classroom. The intended outcome is for the students’ benefit in terms of knowledge and experience, but unchecked, disorganised, or irrelevant application can have the opposite result. Here are some of the drawbacks of playing digital games, both in and out of the classroom:
There has been persistent criticism level towards electronic games, specifically targeting the claim that they encourage kids to act aggressively and violently from a young age. Children who play violent video games are more likely to have aggressive ideas, sentiments, and behaviours, and less willing to aid others, according to research by Anderson and Bushman (2001). There is widespread worry about the normalisation of weapon usage and the glorification of aggressive behaviour.
Young people’s time spent playing digital games might become addicting and lead to a decrease in physical activity. Other than social networking, digital games are suspect of causing inactivity, which in turn contributes to childhood obesity and postural and skeletal abnormalities.
Addiction to Video Games
Addiction to video games has link to increased isolation in young people. Excessive gaming has link to a variety of negative outcomes in children, including impulsive behaviour, despair, and anxiety. Children who spend a lot of time playing video games may have shorter attention spans, according to some research.
Some violent and sexually explicit video games are a major influence on the development of children who play them. Parents’ worries about their children’s exposure to inappropriate content online are on the rise, and this is in part due to a lack of education in the area.
Many people believe that playing video games online prevents kids from focusing on their schoolwork and succeeding. Students’ academic performance declines when they choose to spend their free time playing video games instead of completing assigned schoolwork. Digital games have been find to assist children learn skills, material, and essential “21st-century” skills despite their reputation as advocates of violence and mayhem. Kids can pick up a wide variety of subjects and abilities by playing digital games, including content (such as rich vocabulary, science, and history), skills (such as reading, writing, and arithmetic), creation of artefacts (such as films and software code), and systems thinking (how changing one element affects relationships as a whole). The following is a summary of some of the strongest arguments in support of adopting digital games as learning aids in secondary education.
Play Digital Games
Playing digital games requires a high level of hand-eye coordination and can boost motor and sensory development. Laird’s (1985) theory of sensory stimulation provides empirical support for the idea that heightened sensory experience facilitates learning. Even if there is evidence that digital gaming can shorten the attention span, there is also solid evidence that it can boost concentration for short periods of time. In order to succeed at digital games, one must pay close attention to detail, act in accordance with the rules, and think quickly on one’s feet. Playing sophisticated video games can aid in the growth of analytical thinking and deliberative judgement. Some games help with memory and reasoning because they require study of the event or the environment, or because they teach players to see patterns. Children learn to understand and appreciate rules and structure when they are require to play by them.
The healthy rivalry fostered by online multiplayer video games has long been recognise. Team morale can also be boost through the use of cooperative games. They teach participants to coordinate their efforts and work together to achieve a common goal. They instil in their players a healthy respect for failure and a desire to improve via trial and error. Hyperactive children can channel their energy in a positive way through digital games. Plus, they help de-escalate tense situations by giving you a way to vent your anger and aggravation.
Multitasking
A game like Nintendo Wii boxing encourages kids to use their bodies in addition to their minds. Multitasking at a high level is a hallmark of complex digital games; this benefits the brain in ways that are hard to overstate. According to the theory of learning based on the brain, multitasking is a natural brain function. And different kinds of difficulty help people learn more. Children who regularly engage in strategic digital gaming activities show considerable improvement in their ability to analyse and respond to complex situations.
Games teach players to think strategically by requiring them to come up with plans for both the immediate term (getting points, maintaining health) and the long term (completing the game). Digital games like role-playing simulations and simulations that replicate real-world scenarios are great for teaching and training players. The assumption of both the experiential learning and the action learning theories is that people learn best via doing.
