Can video and computer games help kids learn?
by 
Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger
ANSWERS: 21
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There are some educational videos!! : O )
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I'm sure the ones that are designed to do just that can be helpful!
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Some of them, yes.
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im sure there are but i would advise an alternate route. video games can be addictive to some kids.
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Sure they are great for Hand and eye coordination
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Sure, some of them and some are great for the eye hand coordination.
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Video games can teach young folks many things, or at least, it can easily accentuate and sharpen what they're already learning, in my experience when I was younger it was reading and mathematics, specifically. It can also motivate cultural and historical empathy, because video games have content, usually taken from something that already exists, or has existed before. We have games featuring Norse mythology for example, and some dealing heavily on theology. The game and what it presents itself is not meant to be used as educational material, however it can lead to fulfil the interest further. Also, had I not played Shadow Hearts, I would have learned nothing about Roger Bacon and Grigori Rasputin, and the game itself made me want to learn more about the Czech Republic and more specifically, Prague. Also, it can induce and or enhance physical skills, such as hand to eye coordination or memory; I have a built in compass in my head from wandering in so many dungeons and having to memorize where everything is. I believe video games can help people with basic skills, empathy and physical reflex.
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Yes - they help with eye-hand coordination, and depending on the game, various other skills. I love the VSmile learning system for my daughter.
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My kids just block everything out when it comes to video games, they are deaf to the world!! I much prefer them to use the pc, it enhances reading and writing skills and i can join in!
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My friend who runs a computer traing institute tells me he must allow some time for games to keep kids focussed. Then the interest to return to the center on the pretext of learning improves. They learn the basics of programming etc. if allowed to game a little. But if left to themselves they will keep to gaming rather than learning. So I must conclude that computer games are best used as the proverbial carrot to keep the kids interested. Anything beyond that they would rather play the games than learn. There is nothing to learn from the games themselves.
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In a way they can be helpful for example if the game is educational,it may be good for hand-eye-coordination..etc therefor, if they have violence/profanity, i would think not. :D
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They can, if they were well chosen and in certain times !!
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Depends..if the "games" are all about violence/killing/maiming/etcetera whatever they learn they shouldn't. If they are educational in nature and positive then sure..like any other educational tool. :) ((hugs))
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I suppose it depends on what you want them to learn. One obvious learning outcome is concentration - kids can concentrate for hours on games. But, as other conbtributors have said, it is a case of carefully selecting both the games and the length of time spent on them
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To ALL the people who write-off video games as barbaric, brain-fryers...please read this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1879019.stm http://www.technewsworld.com/story/56516.html Many video games, can and ARE very educational as well as highly entertaining: The "Age of Empires" series is quite fascinating from a historical perspective; Games like "Worms" and "World of Goo" can teach young people the basics of physics/aerodynamics; The "Sim City" series teached players the huge responsibilities of balancing budgets, and city planning; "Brain Age" is very helpful for developing both hand-eye coordination, and memory/mathematical training... The list goes on: ALL video games are not bad - You have to use discretion, not outright banning!
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Of course they can. There are a lot of learning video games out there. Even when I was growing up Sesame Street had a game on the NES that I learned shapes, colors and numbers from. It was fun. Guitar hero for these times can be good for hand eye co-ordination
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Yes, but it can't teach them common sense. Axe
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yeah and they all suck
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My answer is yes because some of them use big words that aren't bad and that helps kids learn vocabulary.
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there are many educational games available both on the computer and the consol games, however that aside, to be able to use a gaming set with rapidity and accuracy, takes a huge amount of dexterity and quick thinking, getting both the left and right sides of the brain to work together, making the user flexible and multitasked, so yes, in many ways !! :)
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Yes, they can. With hand-eye coordination, like so many people have said already, but there's other stuff. Like if you play the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series on the Wii, you can somewhat develop a golf swing.
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