Some of the benefits of children's games are obvious -- children enjoy playing them and they represent a way to have fun with other kids. Playing games also may promote social interaction, playing by the rules, and using logic and strategies to succeed.
Computers can be a great resource for learning. Curriculum-oriented games can develop math, spelling and reading skills. Tactical thinking, problem-solving and planning skills are part of game rewards.
Games are designed to be fun, and educational games don't have to be an exception to this rule. Teens benefit from and appreciate games that help them learn and practice real-life skills, while enjoying friendly competition with their classmates. Teen students can also develop team skills can that transfer to life-long alliances.
Dictionary.com offers a variety of interactive learning games for young people to use in or out of class. Online daily crossword puzzles, Word of the Day and Quote of the Day can be warm-up or end-of-lesson mind-teaser games to build vocabulary skills and learn fun facts.
In spite of being settled in a job or profession, adults may recognize that they still have more to learn. Acquiring new skills or updating existing ones to advance in a career are common issues for adults, but lack of time and motivation may hold them back. Drawing upon the motivation and competition from games, it is important to make learning fun and appealing. Lifelong learning is a key to success, and not engaging in continuing education can undermine our competitive edge and jeopardize our efforts to succeed.
An enjoyable learning environment enriches the educational experience, whether you are taking classes for career advancement or purely for personal enrichment. Thiagi.com offers over 200 training game ideas that cover a wide range of job skills, which focus on assessing and increasing job skills.
According to the Conscious Life.com, people play games because a great deal of satisfaction is derived from it. The feeling of satisfaction that comes from winning, along with the rewarding system of games, keeps players coming back for more. This reward structure should be built into our lifelong learning system, as rewards help link success with pleasure. Link rewards with short and long-term goals and the brain associates learning with enjoyment.
Games are a fun medium that can be challenging and interactive, while putting language skills into practice; they can be short warm-up activities or to fill the time left at the end of a lesson. Games help create a relaxed atmosphere where real learning can take place. Playing word games, such as Scrabble, and doing crossword puzzles encourage language learning and promote fluency. Well-chosen games create an atmosphere that helps to reduce anxiety, provide friendly competition, and keep students interested and motivated to learn.
In spite of its bad rap, video games really can benefit education. Although often stereotyped as the bane of parents, video games do have a legitimate purpose when used the right way.
According to Education.com, several video game companies are dedicated to developing video games that help children and older students learn. From games that support basic mathematical skills to ones that examine solar systems, explore animal habitats or use puzzle games to challenge young minds, various video game companies target the education of elementary, middle and high school students.
PsychCentral noted that a recent Spanish study found that video games in moderation can have a positive effect on young teens' educational development and academic performance.