Are video games a beneficial or destructive form of entertainment for students? This question has gained much relevance over the recent past years. This is because of the immersive games currently available for students and their potency as a distraction to productive learning.
Compared to some years back, modern-day video games have morphed into cinematic masterpieces that engage wide audiences with a ton of amazing features. It is common to come across a student taking a break from the tedious academic chores and seeking homework assistance on platforms like https://mypaperwriter.com/write-my-college-paper.htm.
Although arguments have been made for and against video games, there is yet to be a consensus regarding the effect of video games on students. This article will explore the entertaining world of video games and analyze the pros and cons these games offer students. With this, you can determine how best to employ video games to maximize the benefits of these tools without harsh repercussions.
The Pros and Cons of Video Games as a Source of Entertainment for Students
Pros of video games
1. Cognitive Benefits
Video games are touted for their potency in growing cognitive skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, strategic planning, and improved hand-eye coordination. This is because these games expose players to complex scenarios that call for critical thinking and problem-solving.
The constant stimulation and multitasking help to improve your cognitive flexibility and your ability to focus on multiple tasks. Furthermore, video games enhance a player’s capacity to recall information as they often have to memorize maps and character abilities to navigate the complex gaming world.
2. Educational Value
In a bid to enhance teaching-learning, various developers have designed tools to enhance gamification in education. Ranging from basic puzzle games to simulations, gamification has shown a great capacity to improve academic performance.
Unlike traditional teaching approaches, games are more interactive and thus offer a hands-on approach to learning. These tools can thus be used to supplement classwork, promote healthy competition, and highlight the weaknesses students could have on a particular topic.
Simulation games are also used in fields such as medicine, business management, and engineering to allow students to practice the concepts they have studied in a realistic environment.
3. Social Interaction
Another great benefit of games is their ability to connect students across the globe. This allows for the interaction of players, promoting teamwork and communication. Also, this interaction helps to promote social skills and establish networks that would have an impact on a learner’s academic or career progress.
4. Stress Relief and Entertainment
Juggling classes, assignments, and personal commitments can quickly drain you mentally. Video games can serve as an emotional outlet, helping you to release pent-up stress by realizing various achievements in the game world.
The mental break provided as you partake in your preferred games also helps you to reduce stress and relax, allowing for more productivity in your subsequent study sessions.
5. Creativity and Imagination
Many games provide players with tools and options to modify their characters and develop their skills to address various challenges in the game. This freedom enables learners to express their imagination and broaden their creativity.
Moreover, video games offer the player a chance to explore multiple story developments through their actions in the game. Therefore, they can decide the path in which they want their stories to take and experiment with various strategies.
Cons of video games
1. Excessive Screen Time
Video games offer an immersive form of entertainment and are thus easy to get addicted to as they offer high levels of emotional stimulus through their reward systems. As students scale various challenges in a game, they experience a great feeling which is often sure to the release of dopamine.
Additionally, video games may serve as a route for escaping daily woes, therefore, allowing students some respite from their challenges and obligations. In other instances, students may find themselves stuck in addictive tendencies out of the fear of missing out and an urge to scale the leaders’ board and achieve recognition in their circles.
Over time, students may find it hard to prioritize their tasks, with games taking precedence over other crucial commitments. This can lead to detrimental effects on academics and also promote isolation, exposing a student to a greater risk for depression.
2. Violence and Aggression
Many scholars have argued that video games could promote violence by desensitizing individuals to violence. The constant exposure to violent acts in games could make students less responsive to real-life aggression.
Also, the anonymity and competitive nature of online gaming may encourage habits such as trash-talking and bullying. These could have detrimental effects on a victim, increasing the likelihood of low self-esteem and depression.
Although these hypotheses are popular facts in the debate against video games, they are yet to be proven.
3. Distraction and Academic Performance
Addiction to video games may result in poor time management, making the games to become a distraction to a learner’s academic performance. When games compromise a learner’s capacity to study, they pose a great risk for poor academic performance as students tend to adopt poor sleeping habits and also to neglect their studies, falling behind on classes and assignments.
4. Online Safety Concerns
Online games often pot individuals from different backgrounds and ages. Paired with anonymity, these games pose a risk of bullying, derogatory comments, and inappropriate content.
This is especially risky for younger audiences as they are more vulnerable due to their need for social acceptance.
Final Take
As seen, video games can do great good and have an equal capacity to harm a learner. Therefore, moderation and thoughtful game selection are essential to rip the benefits of video games without harsh consequences.
When selecting a video game, ensure that it will provide a mental challenge and also that it provides features to ensure your security. Also, consider investing in a distraction management app to monitor the time spent on games and also to block notifications that could divert your attention.
Finally, set up your study spot far from your console to prevent the urge to switch to a FIFA session, therefore achieving maximum productivity during your study.
