There is no denying that video games have always been a highly popular form of entertainment, with avid gamers spending at least two to three billion hours in front of the screens weekly. But the idea that video games can improve learning is not really a popular notion. In fact, video games have always been treated as the antithesis of education and learning, particularly by the parents. The common perception is that video games take you farther away from learning and creates an addiction that is highly detrimental. Of course, the true blue casino daily free spins or gaming platform is too engaging to not keep coming back to it. However, you are not always negatively impacting your learning capacity by coming back to video games time and again.
Gamers Can Retain More Fact-Based Knowledge
Gamers keep performing the same tasks again and again, but each time they are faced with a different combination of situations. Their action in different situations acts as a form of instant feedback. After they are done with a particular round of gaming, they tend to remember the finer the nuances of the specific combinations of situations. Since this is something that goes on for days, i.e. each time they sit down to play, their mind gets trained to retain factual information better than the non-gamers. This is of immense help when it comes to retaining the crucial bits of knowledge from the books or journals that they have read.
Video Games as the Way to Train the Hippocampus
MRI scans of gamers and non-gamers have shown considerable differences in the hippocampus area of the brain. Gamers had stronger activity in the hippocampus region and other such brain areas that are involved in cognitive control, visual imagery, and semantic memory. Semantic memory refers to that portion of long-term memory that processes concepts and ideas that aren’t drawn from personal experiences. Some examples of semantic memory are the sounds of letters, the capitals of countries, or the scientific names of different animals. These findings are not just important for the young people, but also for the older generations as memory loss is linked to hippocampal changes. There is also a possibility that video games might be used in the future to address issues related to memory loss.
Games Make You More Focused and Attentive
One of the foremost learning benefits of gaming is that it helps to enhance and hold attention. This can be immensely beneficial to learners, regardless of their age. Most of the modern video games are quite fast-paced and need the gamers to focus intently on the task in front of them. It helps in improving their concentration levels and lengthens their attention spans. Such is the benefit of video games that it is frequently used as an effective form of treatment for attention-based disorders like ADHD. As a matter of fact, several empirical studies have already shown the effectiveness of games in improving ADHD conditions.
Video Games as a Way to Gamify Learning
Let’s take a completely different perspective to highlight the significance of video games in learning. How about using the video games directly to enhance the effectiveness of learning? Games are also being used to make learning much more engaging for the learners of all ages. Learning things through varied activities, also known as experiential learning or kinesthetic learning, will help in better retention of information. It is also helpful for students who are not enthusiastic participants in classroom activities.
This is understandable because the orthodox forms of traditional education have failed to show its effectiveness in the modern generation. The current trend is to use learners’ interests to improve his knowledge retention and memory enhancement. Such is the efficacy of video game based learning that you would notice gamification of learning used even in corporate training and professional courses. Thus, video games are no longer seen as things that only capture the interest of the teens and tweens. The professionals also find it easier to learn when the concepts are presented to them through video games.
Another crucial benefit of learning through games is that not every concept can be taught through books and journals. For instance, skills like teamwork and cooperation are also important life lessons to learn. However, teaching about these factors from the books would hardly make the lesson effective. Now, we can put the same ideas in a video game and present it to gamers. They will imbibe the lessons organically without missing a beat.
The Link between Video Games and Working Memory
Working memory refers to the small quantities of information that you can hold in mind and use to execute cognitive tasks. A good example of working memory is when you listen to a series of events in a story as you try simultaneously to understand its actual meaning. Suppose you are in a classroom and the discussion is on photosynthesis. As the teacher explains the process of photosynthesis, you have a clear idea in your mind about the definition of the process. Studies have also shown that playing video games as kids can help in improving the working memory of a person in later years.
Video games improve a range of cognitive functions, which includes problem-solving, visual and spatial skills, attention span, and of course, working memory. It was also noted that people who were into games before their adolescence showed better performance in the tasks related to working memory even if they did not play games at present. Their capacity of mentally retaining and manipulating information remained unchanged even after they stopped playing. This also hints at the long-term benefits of video games on learning capacity. It is another fact that works not only for the young people, but also for the older generations.
Improvement in Problem-Solving Abilities and Creativity
Playing video games can help children in developing their reasoning and problem-solving skills. As more adolescents play video games that involve formulating war strategies and role-playing, the better they become in problem solving. The creative side is also enhanced by playing all kinds of video games. After all, coming up with better strategies to win every time needs a heightened level of creative thinking. The impact of all these aspects is felt on the learning performance of the kids.
As is evident by now, video games are not really as detrimental to learning as they are conventionally thought to be. However, addiction to games is certainly a matter of worry. If you choose the right games and play in moderation, you can be assured that it will only help you learn better.
Ni kweli kwamba michezo ya video imekuwa aina maarufu ya burudani, na wachezaji wa michezo ya kubahatisha hutumia angalau saa bilioni mbili hadi tatu mbele ya skrini kila wiki. Lakini wazo kwamba michezo ya video inaweza kuboresha kujifunza si kweli wazo maarufu. Kwa kweli, michezo ya video daima imekuwa kutibiwa kama kinyume cha elimu na kujifunza, hasa na wazazi. Watu wengi wanaamini kwamba michezo ya video inakufanya uondoke kwenye kujifunza na inakufanya uwe mraibu. Kwa kweli, kasino ya bluu ya kweli ya bure ya kila siku au jukwaa la michezo ya kubahatisha ni ya kuvutia sana kutorudi tena. Hata hivyo, si mara zote unaathiri vibaya uwezo wako wa kujifunza kwa kurudi kwenye michezo ya video mara kwa mara. Wachezaji wanaweza kuhifadhi maarifa zaidi ya ukweli - Wachezaji huendelea kufanya kazi sawa tena na tena, lakini kila wakati wanakabiliwa na mchanganyiko tofauti wa hali. Matendo yao katika hali tofauti-tofauti hutenda kama aina ya maoni ya papo hapo. Baada ya kumaliza na raundi fulani ya michezo, wao huwa na kukumbuka finer nuances ya mchanganyiko maalum wa hali. Kwa kuwa hii ni kitu ambacho kinaendelea kwa siku, yaani Kila mara wanapoketi kucheza, akili zao zinazoezwa kukumbuka habari za kweli vizuri kuliko wale wasiocheza. Hii ni muhimu sana kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi vipande muhimu vya maarifa kutoka kwa vitabu au magazeti ambayo wamesoma. Uchunguzi wa MRI ya hippocampus ya wachezaji wa michezo ya kubahatisha na wasio wachezaji wa michezo ya kubahatisha umeonyesha tofauti kubwa katika eneo la hippocampus ya ubongo. Wachezaji wa michezo ya kubahatisha walikuwa na shughuli kubwa katika eneo la hippocampus na maeneo mengine ya ubongo yanayohusika katika udhibiti wa utambuzi, picha za kuona, na kumbukumbu ya semantic. Kumbukumbu ya semantic inahusu sehemu hiyo ya kumbukumbu ya muda mrefu ambayo husindika dhana na mawazo ambayo hayajachukuliwa kutoka kwa uzoefu wa kibinafsi. Mifano fulani ya kumbukumbu ya maana ni sauti za herufi, miji mikuu ya nchi, au majina ya kisayansi ya wanyama mbalimbali. Utafiti huu una umuhimu mkubwa kwa vijana na pia kwa wazee, kwa sababu kupoteza kumbukumbu kuna uhusiano na mabadiliko ya hippocampus. Pia kuna uwezekano kwamba michezo ya video inaweza kutumika katika siku zijazo kushughulikia masuala yanayohusiana na kupoteza kumbukumbu. Michezo ya Kubahatisha Inakufanya Uwe na Umakini Zaidi na Unastahili Zaidi: Moja ya faida kuu za kujifunza za michezo ya kubahatisha ni kwamba inasaidia kuboresha na kushikilia umakini. Hii inaweza kuwa na manufaa sana kwa wanafunzi, bila kujali umri wao. Michezo ya video ya kisasa ni ya haraka sana na inahitaji wachezaji kuzingatia kikamilifu kazi iliyo mbele yao. Inasaidia kuboresha viwango vyao vya umakini na kupanua muda wao wa kukazia fikira. Kwa sababu ya faida ya michezo ya video, mara nyingi hutumiwa kama aina ya matibabu ya matatizo ya umakini kama ADHD. Kwa kweli, utafiti wa kihistoria umeonyesha kuwa michezo ya kubahatisha inaweza kusaidia kupunguza ADHD. Michezo ya video kama Njia ya Gamify Learning Hebu kuchukua mtazamo tofauti kabisa ili kuangazia umuhimu wa michezo ya video katika kujifunza. Je, ni sawa kutumia michezo ya video moja kwa moja ili kuongeza ufanisi wa kujifunza? Michezo pia inatumiwa kufanya kujifunza kuwa yenye kuvutia zaidi kwa wanafunzi wa umri wote. Kujifunza vitu kupitia shughuli mbalimbali, pia inajulikana kama kujifunza kwa uzoefu au kujifunza kinesthetic, itasaidia katika kuhifadhi bora ya habari. Pia ni muhimu kwa wanafunzi ambao si washiriki wenye shauku katika shughuli za darasani. Hii inaeleweka kwa sababu aina za orthodox za elimu ya jadi zimeshindwa kuonyesha ufanisi wake katika kizazi cha kisasa. Mwelekeo wa sasa ni kutumia maslahi ya wanafunzi ili kuboresha uhifadhi wake wa maarifa na kuboresha kumbukumbu. Ufanisi wa kujifunza kwa msingi wa mchezo wa video ni kwamba unaweza kuona gamification ya kujifunza kutumika hata katika mafunzo ya ushirika na kozi za kitaaluma. Kwa hiyo, michezo ya kompyuta haionekani tena kuwa kitu ambacho huvutia tu matineja na vijana. Wataalamu pia hupata ni rahisi kujifunza wakati dhana ni iliyotolewa kwao kupitia michezo ya video. Faida nyingine muhimu ya kujifunza kupitia michezo ni kwamba si kila dhana inaweza kufundishwa kupitia vitabu na majarida. Kwa mfano, ustadi kama vile kazi ya pamoja na ushirikiano pia ni masomo muhimu ya maisha ya kujifunza. Hata hivyo, kufundisha juu ya mambo hayo kutoka kwa vitabu hakungefanya somo liwe na matokeo. Sasa, tunaweza kuweka mawazo sawa katika mchezo wa video na kuionyesha kwa wachezaji. Wao watajifunza masomo hayo kwa utaratibu bila kukosa hata kidogo. Kumbukumbu ya kazi (au kumbukumbu ya kazi) ni kiasi kidogo cha habari ambayo unaweza kuweka akilini na kutumia kutekeleza kazi za utambuzi. Mfano mzuri wa kumbukumbu ya kazi ni wakati unaposikiliza mfululizo wa matukio katika hadithi wakati unajaribu wakati huo huo kuelewa maana yake halisi. Kwa mfano, fikiria kwamba uko darasani na unajifunza kuhusu utendaji wa fotosintesisi. Mwalimu anapofundisha kuhusu photosynthesis, unaelewa vizuri maana yake. Uchunguzi pia umeonyesha kwamba kucheza michezo ya video kama watoto inaweza kusaidia katika kuboresha kumbukumbu ya kazi ya mtu katika miaka ya baadaye. Michezo ya video huongeza utendaji mbalimbali wa akili, ikiwa ni pamoja na kutatua matatizo, uwezo wa kuona na kuona mahali, uwezo wa kukaza fikira, na bila shaka, kumbukumbu ya kazi. Watu ambao walikuwa katika michezo kabla ya ujana wao walionyesha utendaji bora katika kazi zinazohusiana na kumbukumbu ya kazi hata kama hawakucheza michezo kwa sasa. Uwezo wao wa kukumbuka na kutumia habari kwa akili haukubadilika hata baada ya kuacha kucheza. Hii pia inaonyesha faida za muda mrefu za michezo ya video juu ya uwezo wa kujifunza. Hii ni kweli kwa sababu sio tu kwa vijana, lakini pia kwa vizazi vya zamani. Kuboresha Uwezo wa Kutatua Matatizo na Ubunifu Kucheza michezo ya video kunaweza kuwasaidia watoto kukuza ustadi wao wa kufikiri na kutatua matatizo. """Wakati vijana wengi wanapocheza michezo ya video inayohusisha kupanga mikakati ya vita na kucheza majukumu, wanakuwa bora katika kutatua matatizo." Upendezi wa ubunifu huimarishwa pia kwa kucheza aina zote za michezo ya kompyuta. Baada ya yote, kuja na mikakati bora ya kushinda kila wakati inahitaji kiwango cha juu cha kufikiri ubunifu. Athari ya mambo haya yote inahisiwa juu ya utendaji wa kujifunza wa watoto. Kama ilivyoonekana sasa, michezo ya video si mbaya sana kwa kujifunza kama inavyofikiriwa. Hata hivyo, ni wazi kwamba uraibu wa michezo ya kubahatisha ni jambo lenye kutia wasiwasi. Ikiwa utachagua michezo sahihi na kucheza kwa kiasi, unaweza kuwa na uhakika kwamba itakusaidia tu kujifunza vizuri zaidi.