Game-Based Learning in Action by Matthew Farber

As players partner with friends, develop and revise strategies, and practice resilience in the face of failure, they train themselves how to think and act in real life.īut video game learning is not limited to cognitive improvement. Like traditional play, video games offer players an opportunity to learn. Overall, they found a strong positive correlation between time spent playing action video games and high scores on tests of perception, attention, spatial awareness, multitasking, and ability to find new solutions when old ones failed. In 2018, psychologist Benoit Bediou and his colleagues reviewed 111 studies, all of the recent research they could find concerning the cognitive effects of playing video games. Similarly, Portal 2 players who encountered repeated challenges and failures were less likely to give up and more likely to try harder on subsequent challenges than were Lumosity players.įlorida State’s findings are also reflected in a larger body of psychological research. They discover how to handle emotions in unexpected and sometimes dangerous situations, practice problem-solving, and make friends.Īlthough scholars typically connect these benefits to games of imagination that are often conducted outdoors, some of today’s most popular video games are offering the same results.Ī recent Florida State University study, for example, found that students who played Portal 2, a popular video game where players create portals to overcome obstacles and escape enemies, were significantly better at finding new ways to think about and solve problems compared to students who played Lumosity, an award-winning brain training game.

Scholars have long found that as children play, they develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Gaming offers even greater benefits for our kids. They play to make friends, develop confidence, and boost problem-solving abilities.

Playing video games together is an easy but critical way for parents to help their kids grow.Īccording to the Pew Research Center, 60 percent of Americans 18-29 play video games. But technology-based learning should be taking place at home as well. Across the United States, educators are finding ways to incorporate new technologies into their classrooms.

Game-Based Learning in Action by Matthew Farber