Can Kids Learn From Video Games?

In both of the videos below they are arguing against the common judgement of video games. The first video is from a guy who has designed video games and the second is from a scientist who does research on the topic.


In the video Are Video Games Making Your Kids Smarter? they make a couple claims:

• Kids who play video games have awesome multitasking skills which helps the brain
• Kids are constantly learning during video games
• Overall IQ has been increasing since video games has become popular (Coincidence? I think not.)

The video Your Brain on Video Games also makes claims about video games:

• Video games in reasonable dosages can have positive impacts
• People who play action packed video games has better eye sight
• They also have better attention spans and can switch between tasks swiftly and effectively

The video Big Thinkers: Katie Salen on Learning with Games is not like the other two videos. She talks about how it is important for kids to be able to take risks and fail but be ok with it. To me that is what 21st learning is all about. How are we going to get better if we don't try and fail?

INTENSE video game! by Shellnort

I grew up hearing how video games were the devil from most adults. "They make you stupid." is the most common thing I heard. I have never been much of a gamer probably because of how much I heard about games being bad for you from people. Another common thing I heard growing up is that video games were for nerds who couldn't play sports. I don't think these people have ever played a game because there is a lot of skill that you need to play one. 

From watching these videos I learned that the ideas I had about videos game aren't true or right. Parents tell their kids all the time, "Don't watch too much TV, it hurts your eyes". They don't say that it healthy dosages it can help, then again they probably don't know. Not many people research things they say to make sure they know what they are talking about. We just believe what we read and watch.

How many times have you heard that video games make you stupid? I know I have. Did you know that you are constantly learning when you play video games? It makes sense considering that you are always leveling up and the game is constantly getting harder for the player.

Lets admit it we have all heard about how bad action and violent games are for our kids. Violent games will only make you violent if you have already seen it somewhere else (like at home). People who play action games have better eye sight and can multitask better.

When I learned all this it blew my mind. Who knew how beneficial video games could be?

Below is a school that is taking something kids love (video games) and having them learn from it.

"A novel public school in New York City has taken the video game as its model for how to teach. Students use video games and design them as part of their classes. As Quest to Learn is wrapping up its first year, those behind the program say game-based learning is integral to 21st century literacy."