Video Games Make You…Smarter?

The lazy part I can’t argue with because some people sit and play video games all day and all night instead of going and hanging out.

On the other hand, others only play video games when they don’t have other things to do, and or use them as a way to connect with other people.

It was once said that video games kill brain cells, but now this has been proven false:

“Contrary to popular belief, though, many build, not burn brain cells by requiring extensive problem solving, teamwork and dynamic decision-making skills.” Says Scott Steinberg, head of Techsavvy Global.

If you think about it, this statement makes sense; while playing video games you are interacting with the game.  In addition, you’re making decisions for your character, and in certain games you have different choices and option to alter the final out come of the game.  At any moment there are multiple decisions to make and this teaches you to subconsciously think about how your actions and choices in the now can effect you in the future.

Steinberg also said “Businesses and universities are increasingly turning to interactive simulations and virtual worlds as training tools to educate employees.”

This is a smart thing to do because games provide hands on learning, without having to be on the job.  Employees/students can virtually learn information and/or tasks while interacting, not just sitting and listening or watching.

“Serious games and virtual environments are the future of education.” Says Dr. Jeffrey Taekman, the director of Duke University’s Human Simulation and Patient Safety Center,

In the future could we really be coming to school and playing games to learn instead of reading books and listening to lectures? Or could it be we might hop online and enter a virtual reality right in our living room to learn in the same fashion we do in school?

Using a virtual world or game would allow teachers to record every choice made, which is something they cant do in a traditional classroom setting.  In truth, they don’t know whether or not we are actually taking notes, or even listening in the matter.

Video games also have many capability’s not only uses as educational tools, but as actually brain exorcises,more often than not video games allow the player to build confidence and view the world from many view point. There are four main ways video games actually aid in making you smarter:

Hands on experience: games are more interactive than other forms of entertainment, your in the game making choice moving your character etc., this causes your brain to actually do work.

Job experience: Although when playing games your not actually on the job, but through games such as cafe world and other app like games, they give the user some what of a way to relate to a task on the job, increasing their desire to work. Also games have been proven more effective for job training than the traditional training videos.

Contextual learning: contextual games are increasingly being used in the medical care feild, it is much safer to have a learning medical students practice a procedure virtually, (not actually performing the tasks on a person but under the same contexts) this allows for more mistakes and easier taught corrections. When they practice on living beings, one mess up could result in death, but in a virtual setting these would be stimulated deaths.

Team Collaboration: Massive multi-player games such as World of Warcraft, City of heroes, etc., although based on SCI-FI and aren’t very realistic, they promote team work in many aspects, these games require informed decision making through the use of teams, promoting players to work together towards a common goal.

So, although playing an excessive amount of video games can be detrimental to your brain,  and cause adverse effects on your social life, in moderation the recreational use can be helpful in learning concepts and open your mind to broader concepts. Also it is being seen more and more as an actual learning tool.

Now when your parents complain about you playing, you know they arent as bad as they try to convince you.

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