Games, once primarily seen as a form of entertainment, have gained recognition as a valuable educational resource. They engage children while imparting various skills. Recent studies on game-based learning (GBL) indicate that students achieve better learning outcomes through this medium. By utilizing familiar content, children easily relate to the characters, stories, and objectives in these games. The built-in reward systems in games help sustain their interest and participation. Consider the example of Pavlov’s dog responding to a bell; similarly, rewards in games effectively motivate us.
What advantages do educational games offer children? How can parents, caregivers, and teachers adjust their mindset to accept increased screen time when the games are educational? The initial step is to understand the various benefits that educational games provide to children.
Friedrich Schiller, in his essay “Upon the Aesthetic Education of Man,” describes play as a fundamental aspect of civilization, stating that “humans are only fully human when they play.”
Researchers continue to explore how enjoyable and educational games can create effective learning environments for children. Studies reveal multiple reasons why children gain from learning through this interactive method.
Playing games boosts students’ desire to learn. Engaging in games and acquiring skills to compete, advance levels, or win can captivate children, encouraging them to continue playing and applying their new knowledge the following day. In essence, completing a game is enjoyable for individuals of all ages.
Reference:
Smith, J. A., & Johnson, L. M. (2011). The Impact of Game-Based Learning on Student Motivation. Journal of Educational Research, 104(3), 215-230.
When students participate in creating games and applications, they develop their problem-solving and strategic abilities. This unconventional thinking fosters critical thinking skills, which are valuable not just in academics but also in various aspects of life.
Example:
In ItsMyBot, children use hands-on STEM kits that resemble cars to build and program their own bots. This hands-on approach enhances their engineering and programming skills through direct interaction with physical components, fostering practical problem-solving abilities.
Children often use their own language when discussing their interests. Online games come with unique languages and terms, encouraging inquisitive minds to look up new words. Even children who play games without a language focus experience improvements in language skills. The terminology used in gaming contributes positively to overall language learning.
Combining games with classroom activities significantly builds students’ self-esteem. Achieving proficiency in a skill or game through effort fosters self-confidence. Games involve making decisions, which enhances feelings of competence and personal worth.
Example:
In Prodigy Math Game, students earn rewards for solving math problems, which reinforces their confidence in their mathematical abilities.
Play serves as a fundamental activity in childhood, encouraging children to collaborate both inside and outside the classroom through games. Engaging in games within education teaches students about cooperation, effective listening, sportsmanship, fairness, and respect for others. Striving for a shared objective and achieving success together motivates teams to perform well collectively.
Example:
Roblox allows players to work together on projects, fostering teamwork and collaborative skills essential for future endeavors.
Educational games are enjoyable and capture children’s interest while also stimulating their imagination. By practicing life skills and solving problems within a game, children better understand the world around them and can transfer these skills to real-life situations. From age three, children engage in pretend play, similar to how they might use a play kitchen, attend a play school, or dress as a superhero. Playing games that require focus and attention helps children manage their emotions. Games serve as an early introduction to professional and emotional skills beneficial as children mature.
Plato once stated, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” This reflects the natural creativity in children. Educational games engage children’s innate creative thinking and behavior. Through games, children learn that there are multiple ways to solve a problem, each involving different risks and rewards.
Example:
In Minecraft: Education Edition, children build structures and create scenarios that encourage creative problem-solving and innovation.
The relationship between video games and the development of hand-eye coordination has garnered significant interest in academic and clinical settings. Engagement with video games can significantly enhance hand-eye coordination, a skill critical for activities ranging from sports to surgical procedures. Video games require players to track moving objects and respond swiftly to visual stimuli. For instance, Millard et al. (2014) noted that video games assist in coordinating three-dimensional movements with two-dimensional video images, a fundamental aspect of developing hand-eye coordination (Bingham et al., 2010).
Research by Guarneri et al. (2013) found that training with Nintendo Wii games improved laparoscopic skills, suggesting that the cognitive and motor skills honed through gaming translate effectively into medical practice. Additionally, studies have shown that medical students with prior video gaming experience perform better in laparoscopic skills, which require precise hand-eye coordination (Borahay et al., 2014).
The cognitive benefits of video gaming also include improved reaction times and visual processing capabilities. Bhattacharyya et al. (2017) found that children who played action video games exhibited shorter visual reaction times, indicative of enhanced sensorimotor performance. This aligns with findings from Horoszkiewicz et al. (2022), who noted that professional gamers outperform amateurs in psychomotor tasks, reinforcing the idea that gaming fosters superior hand-eye coordination skills.
In conclusion, the evidence strongly supports the notion that video games play a significant role in developing hand-eye coordination. This enhancement is beneficial not only for recreational purposes but also has practical implications in fields such as medicine and sports, where precise coordination is essential. Future research should continue to explore the mechanisms behind these improvements and how they can be effectively harnessed for training and rehabilitation purposes.
Reference:
Guarneri, D., Patrizi, G., Rocco, G., Vestri, A., Semproni, C., Fiengo, L., … & Redler, A. (2013). Play to become a surgeon: impact of Nintendo Wii training on laparoscopic skills. PLOS ONE, 8(2), e57372. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057372
Borahay, M., Jackson, M., Tapisiz, O., Lyons, E., Patel, P., Nassar, R., … & Kılıç, G. (2014). Assessment of minimally invasive surgical skills of pre-medical students: what can we learn from future learners? Journal of the Turkish-German Gynecological Association, 15(2), 69-73. https://doi.org/10.5152/jtgga.2014.0044
After discussing the advantages of incorporating games into education, we will examine various types of game-based learning designed for children. These include:
Educational games centered on math and strategy assist students in applying reasoning and understanding fundamental principles to discover innovative mathematical solutions. These games aim for children to grasp math concepts conceptually rather than memorizing them, which is essential as they progress to advanced levels. Examples include:
Reading is a crucial skill and milestone that children strive to achieve. It aids in learning spelling, grammar, and sentence structure, significantly expanding a child’s vocabulary. Reading stimulates the imagination, allowing readers to explore fictional characters and settings. Examples of reading games include:
Children new to writing may feel daunted by tasks like spelling, grammar, diction, and vocabulary. As they become more comfortable, writing transforms from a skill to master into a creative outlet with limitless options. The following games can help children develop into young writers with practice:
Health and fitness games encourage children to be active and develop body awareness early on. These games enhance health-related knowledge and can improve coordination and agility. Setting athletic goals keeps children active without emphasizing physical strain. Physical tasks serve as methods to earn points and advance through levels. Examples include:
As technology progresses, coding becomes increasingly essential in the tech industry. ItsMyBot offers a hands-on approach to learning coding, utilizing beautiful STEM kits that resemble cars to capture students’ attention. These kits provide tangible experiences where children can build and program their own bots, fostering practical skills in engineering and programming without relying solely on game-based elements. This method encourages creativity and problem-solving through direct interaction with physical components, making learning engaging and effective.
Example:
With ItsMyBot, children use STEM kits to assemble car-like bots, enhancing their understanding of mechanical and software engineering in a hands-on environment.
While educational games offer numerous benefits, it’s important to consider potential challenges to ensure a balanced approach:
Educational games offer advantages to all children, especially those who excel with unconventional learning methods. Incorporating games into educational programs creates an engaging environment that drives students to develop skills and tackle challenges. As discussed, educational games enhance motivation, improve problem-solving abilities, support language development, increase self-esteem, promote teamwork, prepare children for real-life situations, foster creativity, and develop hand-eye coordination. Additionally, these games provide enjoyment not just for children but for parents as well.
For further information on integrating educational games into your child’s learning routine, explore the resources and links provided throughout this article.
