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Advantages of Computer Games in Education
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Commercial computer games are fun, engaging and seductive. They are highly interactive and provide both a challenge and instant, visual feedback within a safe virtual environment.

In short, computer games engage young people in a way that traditional classroom activities simply cannot. But aside from providing entertainment, computer games have also been found to serve a range of educational functions. According to Gee (2003) “they encourage different ways of learning and thinking and provide the opportunity to teach and practice new skills and encourage imagination, creativity and exploration.

Advantages of Computer Games (positive implications for learning)

Games help pupils to develop key learning skills such as: cognitive processing, logical thinking and independent decision making.

Computer games encourage interpersonal relationships, thus encouraging cooperative and competitive behaviour within a strategic context (Filipczak 1997; Gee 2003)

Many games enable players to embody different characters thus helping to breed attitudes of tolerance and understanding.

The games enable engagement in activities otherwise “too costly to resource or too difficult to implement in the classroom (Berson 1996)
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Simulation games could be used as a means of preparing learners for the world of work (Filipczak 1997; Saunders and Smalley 2000; Griffiths and Davies 2002).

Aggressive game play can help players relax and balance their aggression. (Bensley and van Eenwyk 2001)

 

Advantages

Games help pupils to develop important physical attributes such as manual dexterity

According to Van Deventer and White (2002) use of computer games is linked to 'expert' behaviours such as, “problem solving, principled decision-making, and superior short-term and long-term memory.”

Incorporating computer games within education provides a valuable link between activities within the classroom and life outside school. Such a connection will help to reinforce learning and may encourage pupils to continue to develop their ICT skills outside the classroom environment.

Computer games provide a safe artificial environment within which learners with low self esteem may feel more inclined to explore investigate and express themselves.

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17 March, 2006

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