Educators and gaming experts say video games and tabletop games help children learn better in school.
At PAX East, the major annual gaming convention currently being held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, multiple panels are looking at how kids can benefit from gaming.
Amy Doyle, technology teacher at Ayr Shirley Regional Secondary School, said gameplay helps students learn in a medium they are already familiar with.
She held a workshop at PAX East on Thursday about how to use gamification in the classroom and the benefits of electronic gaming teams in schools.
Mr Doyle said children can grow in many ways from the game and it can help children who are struggling to connect with school material.
“Our brains are built by learning how to play, and our brains are wired to understand play,” she said. “So bringing that element into the classroom allows students to access a curriculum that might be a barrier if it's just on a worksheet or just being talked about by a teacher.” Auto-unlock provides a safe space for students to ask those scary questions they wouldn't ask in a normal classroom environment.”
Ms Doyle said she was aware there was a lot of prejudice that video games “rotten the brain”, but that games could do the opposite.
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“Video games are not a passive activity like watching TV or movies,” she said. “They're active. These imply critical thinking skills and puzzle-building skills. And if people give themselves more of a chance and try out simple games for themselves, they'll realize the powerful power these games have. I think we're going to start to understand the impact.”
At Ayr Shirley Regional Middle School, Doyle incorporates games into technology classes and also offers electives focused on video games and the gaming industry.
She introduced games into lesson plans throughout the school. In her math class she uses Mario to teach geometry, in her English literature class she uses The Legend of Zelda to explore stories and stories of heroes, and in history she uses Settlers of the World to teach children I am making them learn. Catan board game.
Mr Doyle said the school's esports team takes students to compete in gaming competitions, helping them develop confidence and teamwork skills.
For educators and parents looking to incorporate games into their children's education, Doyle suggests starting by asking children what games they already like to play and building from there. did.
“Ask them what they want to play, because if they already know the game, it saves you half the work and then you can incorporate it,” Doyle said. Told. “I coach an esports team where we don't even play half the games. The kids know that part. So what they're playing, what they're already doing. Talk to them about what you are doing, and it will be very easy to understand right away.”
Chris James, an audio data specialist at Modulate, a Somerville-based software company that fights harmful online behavior, said gaming is fun for kids because it's another way to socialize. He spoke on a panel about the benefits of gaming for children.
“Places like Roblox and Minecraft are all spaces where kids come together and do things together as an activity,” James said. “It’s a space where kids can express themselves and interact in ways that probably wouldn’t be possible without the digital infrastructure to interact with each other.”
Derek J. Smith, a lecturer at the University of New Haven and coordinator of the school's esports and gaming academic program, says gaming in moderation helps children learn many skills, including problem-solving, communication, and social interaction. said it was helpful.
Smith's own son loves playing video games. One day he noticed that his son no longer played his game Spider-Man, which he always loved.
“I'm like, 'What's going on?'” He goes, “Dad, I can't beat a lizard.” “So why can't you beat the lizard?” And he goes, “Well, he's a little too difficult.” I thought, “No, that's not the answer.” Why can't I beat him? ”
The two sat together and discussed the Lizard's storyline and his motivations, and worked out how to fight him in-game.
“Right now we're really immersing ourselves more in literary works,” Smith said. “Literary terminology, understanding, character development, etc. That means you can channel your gaming motivation in a different direction.”
At the end of the workshop, Doyle shared anonymous messages from students about their thoughts on the game.
One student mentioned the stigma against video games. “It makes me sad when I hear teachers talk negatively about video games. I'm a good student. I get all A's, but because I like video games, I don't want my teachers to think I'm different.” I don't want it to seem like…it makes it hard to trust that teacher.”
Another student said, “I can understand myself better through games than through novels.'' “If both require storytelling, why can’t we learn through games?”
