The Future of Video Games: Enhancing Education

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The Future of Video Games Enhancing Education

• By Stephen McKenzie, Bryce Gallagher, Kelsey
  Johnson, and Nick Cortina

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Introduction

• Video games are everywhere from your own living
  room, to hotels, stadiums, malls, hospitals, and
  now even in classrooms.
• Intensive research and studies show that video
  games increase learning efficiency
• Video games are used in all levels of education
  and now are even being used in the military,
  engineering, and medical fields.
• Business Employers are discovering that games can
  help build analytical thinking, improve team
  building skills, multi-tasking, and problem
  solving skills.

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• Studies show that playing video games enhance
  brain chemistry by stimulating substantial
  dopamine release which increases memory.
• Video games encourage students to spend more time
  learning outside of the classroom because they
  are being more entertained and intellectually
  challenged at the same time.
• Some educators disagree with the use of video
  games because they feel that it is just a scheme
  to help boost sales and feel as if they are not
  an efficient media for educational purposes.
• Despite what some educators feel, the data that
  weve collected from many studies prove that
  video games are a great supplement to learning.

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Video Games and Engineering

• With the use of video games, students can improve
  math and science skills significantly.
• Right now in the U.S. we are facing a crisis
  where were going to run out of engineers in the
  future due to the shortage of engineering
  students.
• Video games aid in improving skills in science
  because they help with experimental learning,
  inquiry based learning, self efficacy, goal
  setting, cooperation, and continuous feedback.
• Studies show that lecture based learning that is
  being taught in the educational system today is
  inferior to problem solving, and active learning
  formats

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Video Games and the Medical Field

• Surgeons are using the Nintendo Wii to help them
  understand step-by-step procedures better so that
  will benefit their surgery performances.
• In one small study, medical educators found out
  that surgeons who played the Nintendo Wii
  beforehand, and performed virtual gallbladder
  surgery, scored 48 higher than those who didnt
  play the game beforehand.
• Most virtual programs cost thousands of dollars,
  while the Nintendo Wii only costs 250, so not
  only do you learn more but you also save a lot of
  money
• In another study, a group of researchers
  discovered that diabetic children that used a
  video game with diabetes control themes had a 77
  decrease in emergency room visits.

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Video Games and The Military

• Across the United States and Europe, military
  researchers are busily exploring potential video
  games.
• In the past soldiers have learned their trade by
  sweating and straining on the training fields,
  but in today's world they will also be able to
  learn how to fight through video games.
• It is estimated that the military video game
  industry is about a 35 billion dollar industry,
  but they are still a cost effective solution
  because they dont have to use equipment and
  expend their resources and can use video games to
  their advantage

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• Simulations with lifelike 3d graphics that can be
  played on a 700 dollar lap top can be used to
  teach tasks like disarming and IED to fixing
  tanks and are available any time anywhere to
  soldiers
• Military saw an increase in recruits after they
  released video game technologies such as
  Americas Army.

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Video Game Designers of the Future

• There are more then 100 universities in America
  that offer majors in video game design along with
  even more over seas.
• The students in each program learn to be
  efficient team players and are trained in all the
  facets of game development workflow from initial
  idea to final delivery.
• As of now Libraries are also working with video
  game companies to make learning easier and more
  efficient for this day and age.
• Games can easily be incorporated as a core
  library service or into existing library services.