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Edutopia Poll: Are Serious Games Effective Teaching Tools?


Via: Edutopia by Sara Bernard

To the excitement of many youngsters, computer and video games have entered the educational playing field. Research increasingly supports the cognitive benefits of such games -- not to mention the fact that most kids today are already playing them and loving them -- and now educators and game designers are finding new and exciting ways to embed curricular content into complex yet fascinating play environments.

On the other hand, critics charge that the games' educational benefits have not been clearly established. Furthermore, competitiveness and the use of hierarchical scoring systems can compromise engagement for some students, and video gaming at school reinforces the digitized and sedentary lifestyle many young people already experience at home. Would you, or do you, use digital games in the classroom?

Are computer and video games effective teaching tools?

Current Status

Yes. Computer and video games engage, motivate, and inspire students, and educational researchers and game designers are collaborating to create their ideal niche in the classroom.
78% (391 votes)

No. Using electronic games in the classroom is not the best thing for students simply because games are part of the world they grow up in. Educational video games should be judged, critiqued, and proven before they're used in class.
22% (110 votes)

Total votes: 501