subject: 4 Benefits That Games Can Do For Education [print this page] Benefits that games can provide for education include engaging the students, encouraging teamwork, promoting good gamesmanship, and enhancing problem-solving skills.
While education inside classrooms is very important for teaching students, it can be more effective than ordinary lecture and other techniques to use games. Educative games give lots of advantages to the students that are far greater than most traditional ways of teaching.
Engages the students
Concentration is vital to learning. It is through concentration that the mind learns the information that is being provided. But, lectures can only make students concentrate for a short period of time, specifically with children. There have been studies that showed that a normal grownup can only fully concentrate for about 30 minutes, and even less with children, before his mind begins to wander to other things. Hence, it is imperative that there be a break just about every 15 to 30 minutes during a lecture to allow the minds of students a relaxing break so they can once again focus when the lecture resumes. In fun games, however, the participants are basically engaged in the activity as they are more compelled in what they are doing. And this can go on for hours on end. So when education is incorporated into fun games, the students can cover much more ground in the same span of time that is used with the conventional form of teaching through lectures.
Encourages teamwork
Even though there are games that you can do on your own, there are also several that require a group of participants. And as students graduate from school and join the real world, they must be armed with the ability to work well with other people. Through games, teamwork is introduced among the students. The students have to work well, cooperate and set aside individual desires for the group so that they can win the game they are playing. To win the game for you and your group, you have to act as a team by sharing your thoughts and talents, and by helping your members. Through this experience, the students will realize the significance of teamwork, or the ability to collaborate with other individuals. In the real world, you will be working with individuals that you may not like, but because of teamwork, you will still be able to help your group to accomplish your goal.
Develops good sportsmanship
A good player knows how to act appropriately with a win or loss in the game. He will not pout or demonstrate any sign of fury if he lost the game, nor will he be arrogant if he wins. Although he may be hurting inside with his loss, he will not show it, instead he will use it as a way to challenge himself to get much better for the next game. If he is the winner, he will also commemorate his victory but not at the loser's expense. Games in school help to develop good sportsmanship.
Enhances problem-solving skills
While educators can refer to their key cards or Cheat on Words with Friends, the learners playing the game will utilize their skills and abilities to solve the situations presented to them in the games. And the more that the students spend time on these educative games, the sharper their analytic skills are developed.
Games allow the child to have a hands-on interaction with the informative materials that are presented to them, and thus enhance their interest and deepen their knowledge.
