“Should elementary schools embrace Educational Video Games?”

“Should elementary schools embrace Educational Video Games?”

Introduction

A game is a form of play that is structured to captivate players and excite their senses, which are kinds of things that a teacher requires students to have in a classroom environment. Games empower individuals to consider other perspectives with multiple variables as they offer a more comprehensive understanding of a problem and the situation involved. With children born in an environment full of digitalized materials, most of their learning comes from engaging with technology. Video games outside of the classroom environment to some teachers are too violent and do not help students think critically. To some teachers, it has got an impact on kids’ ability to learn and associate with others. These thoughts these days are outdated, as video games have improved with much better graphics and more involving stories. Video games have become the best source for most children entertainment. With children spending most of their time online, instead of separating them with technology, educators have to learn how to embrace high tech methods of education and encourage learners’ participation in educational video games.

Video games can also be incorporated with physical exercise activities to help and avoid weight issues. According to a study conducted at Orebro University, this is one of the reasons most learning institutions use exergames in physical education. The study states that playing some video games gives points for burning calories, which helps in counteracting overweight issues. Most students also view video gaming as an alternative to participating in traditional outdoor activities such as ball games, thus making it attractive for them. Also, the content children and young people gain from games may contain both praise and criticism, which is crucial for a child’s growth. Some video games require children to enter their height and weight, and with the avatar’s size change, the image reflected on the screen can create a positive or a negative image. This shows that games can be crucial for children in supporting, encouraging and assessing them (Orebro Universitet, 2016).

Video games can also help improve learners’ motivation through competition, enjoyment, application, fantasy and developing their interest with the game. They provide excitement, helps to cope with anger issues from real-life situations and can be a source of relaxation.

These evoke different strong feelings and emotions, and as a fun tool, it helps in making them more collaborative and competitive. According to a study conducted by Mifsud et al. (2013), applying video games as a tool for learning English as a secondary language showed many improvements. Many of the parents agreed that video games used for educational purposes are an essential tool in classroom learning. The games also help in enhancing learners’ academic and non-academic skills. Just like in a classroom environment, the things that matter most is knowledge gaining, what is learned and taught by the games is also important. The different experiences they gain from the games help them in like the learning process, and as such, they acquire the motivation to continue and excel. This helps in satisfying learners’ psychological needs such as competence and relatedness independently, thus providing extrinsic and intrinsic motivation (Mifsud, 32-52).

The environments in which the games are also played to be safe and better learning environments for elementary students and help improve their problem- solving skills. In simulation video games, students reduce wasting resources such as time and money needed to engage in outdoor activities. These games provide opportunities and training in which learners can apply knowledge in practice easily through different interactive strategies. The various interactions also require learners to make smart and fast decisions.

In most video games, players are mostly required to utilize their basic knowledge to solve the problems or moves for them to prevail. According to Boon-itt (2012), the application of game simulation to teach increases students’ confidence as theories can be visualized with future demands. The logic-based problem-solving skill developed in class through the game helps them with real-life tackle experiences and improves their knowledge of studying theories in a real environment. The results from the study show that as students, even those with disabilities enjoy the visual nature and fun to play, it reveals the pressure of lectures and motivates them, making the study of real-life lessons collaborative.

Video games can also help students with disabilities manage their way of behaving and acquire different skills. For students with attention disorders, video games can help them pay attention or focus on something. Through the use of exergaming and different video sessions full of interaction, students with disabilities can manage their behaviour and also be able to increase their physical activities. Students with autism also are capable of developing their social skills by improving their interactions with others and mitigate isolation.

According to Alamri (2016), different studies show that video games showed improved positive results in terms of expression, motivation, satisfaction, socialization, emotional and learning ability among students with disorders. Video games enhance their learning and reading ability, thus having positive effects on their behaviours. This differs from stereotypes associated with video gaming as very addictive and helps in developing aggressive behaviour. Furthermore, with so many learners nowadays struggling to keep their focus in schools, it is crucial to embrace educational methods that ease their disorders and not making them spend little time on computers.

Video games based on the training of socially valued practitioners also helps to build students who can see the world in different ways well aligned with their core skills. With the best games being all about problem-solving skills, developing them requires practitioners to develop different ways of thinking and acting. Various developments require detailed ethnographic studies and an understanding of the different frames within a community to associate with their consumers. With the incorporation of different aspects, learners can as well think and work as different professionals such as military personnel, doctor or even engineers. According to a study conducted by Turner et al. (2018), learning with digital games helps learners gain new abilities and skills which they can use in a life-changing achievements. Also, in the army, computer games are a useful tool encouraged and used to make soldiers associate with real-world activities.

Digital game-based learning practices differ from traditional academic learning.  Learners in epistemic games can learn practices such as urban ecology. They can be able to read letters from residents on crime issues, traffic and even affordable housing, thus making them learn why such matters happen. Learners can also conduct a site assessment of the work and be able to present it to city planning representatives. This further shows why educational video games can be useful, especially when knowledge gaining is the most critical activity in a game-related with real-life situations. Through this, the facts and information about the different things come quickly to them.

As stated earlier, video games have always been associated with unwanted behaviours such as addiction and an increase in aggressiveness. According to a study conducted by Alamri (2016), video games were directly associated with making learners more active.  This is mostly by playing games that are also primarily associated with ‘role-playing.’ This kind of play also causes inattention symptoms, while video-game with violent content was also associated with attention problems. By limiting the time of playing role-playing games and video games with violent content, students can improve their cognitive and social skills development.

In conclusion, embracing educational video games can be crucial in students learning in elementary schools. It can help increase their motivation by satisfying their psychological needs and improve their way of tackling problems. It can also help in acting as a safe and better learning environment for students. Through different gameplays, students can also engage in various physical activities and help counteract weight problems. Furthermore, their problem-solving skills can be improved as they can utilize their cognitive abilities. Lastly, digital game-based learning practices ensure that learners can learn and understand different concepts, just like professionals. With the perception that video games are addictive and harmful, it is essential to avoid these stereotypes and view technology and learning differently. We should see them as non-competing elements which help to educate children.

 

Works Cited

Alamri, Abdulrahman. “Should Video Games Be Included in the Learning Process.” International Journal of Education 8.1 (2016): 23-33.

Boon-itt, Saku. “Using Simulation Game Approach to Teach Pull and Push Production Sytem Concepts.” Engineering Management Research 1.1 (2012): 110.

Mifsud, Charles L., Rosalind Vella, and Liberato Camilleri. “Attitudes towards and eefects of the use of video games in classroom learning with specific reference to literacy attainment.” Research in Education 90.1 (2013): 32-52.

Örebro Universitet. “Pros and cons of video games in schools.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 March 2016. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160304092750.htm

Turner, Patrick E., et al. “Influence of online computer games on the academic achievement of nontraditional undergraduate students.” Cogent Education 5.1 (2018): 1437671