“Game” by monikabaechler is licensed under CC by 2.0
Here’s yet again scientific proof of something homeschooling moms like me have known all along – video games can’t all be bad for kids. Bill Watson, a renowned Purdue professor from the College of Education had this to say in a recent interview: “One reason I support video games is because I think they’re an excellent model for learning.” And surprisingly, he isn’t talking only about only educationally-oriented learning games. “When you play a game, you are going to learn. If the game is designed with educational content in mind, you have to learn that content in order to win the game.” And thus learning happens by default.
So these summer holidays if you notice your kids hooked on to the laptop for a little more than their usual allowed screen time playing their favorite games, you have less cause to worry. Let them find their way through to the end of the complicated game and win; in fact, introduce them to video games that help them brush up their basic math and reading skills. What’s more, try to join in and spend some quality time with your little one traveling through magical digital playgrounds and facing monsters.
As Watson likes to put it: “You’re doing problem solving when you’re learning how the game system works and how to win it.”
What better way to prevent the summer slide?
Here’s yet again scientific proof of something homeschooling moms like me have known all along – video games can’t all be bad for kids. Bill Watson, a renowned Purdue professor from the College of Education had this to say in a recent interview: “One reason I support video games is because I think they’re an excellent model for learning.” And surprisingly, he isn’t talking only about only educationally-oriented learning games. “When you play a game, you are going to learn. If the game is designed with educational content in mind, you have to learn that content in order to win the game.” And thus learning happens by default.
So these summer holidays if you notice your kids hooked on to the laptop for a little more than their usual allowed screen time playing their favorite games, you have less cause to worry. Let them find their way through to the end of the complicated game and win; in fact, introduce them to video games that help them brush up their basic math and reading skills. What’s more, try to join in and spend some quality time with your little one traveling through magical digital playgrounds and facing monsters.
As Watson likes to put it: “You’re doing problem solving when you’re learning how the game system works and how to win it.”
What better way to prevent the summer slide?