Video Games and Learning

     Video games can serve many different purposes for different people.  Some people consider them an essential part of life and play every day, while others play occasionally and consider them to be just a pastime or hobby.  It is important to note, though, that video games serve a variety purposes for different individuals.  Playing very violent video games too often can lead to serious problems, including antisocial behavior and more serious problems as well.  Playing more positive and less violent games can have many beneficial effects, too.  For instance, those types of games can actually promote social behaviors and can relieve stress.  But, why not go one step further and reap even more benefits from games?  Playing the right types of video games can actually produce learning. 

Kids learning while play games

     According to one article by Tina Barseghian, new research supports the fact that learning can be accomplished through experiences.  Although this is a rather new way of thinking of learning, it is incredibly important.  Thus, the video game experience can actually produce learning.  To begin, video games can feed the learning process.  The experiences that encourage the most learning have clear goals, motivation, feedback, and other things.  Fortunately, video games hold all of these criteria.  For instance, most games make players follow certain guidelines and rules to reach the objectives.  Also, the social aspect of games allows players to interact and remember the things they have learned easier.  In addition, video games can build on previous experiences, which is an extremely important part of the learning process.
    Furthermore, video games motivate learning, promote risk-taking, and teach problem solving.  Motivation is a key component in learning.  If no motivation exists, little to no learning will take place.  Also, games promote risk-taking because players have to try different things to figure out the best way to achieve goals.  The cost of failure is much less in video games than in real life.  Thus, players are more likely to take risks.  Finally, players vague objective in all games is to solve problems.  Research supports the fact that problem solving is an excellent way to learn.  Overall, video games promote learning in many different ways.