do video games work so well in helping to learn

Leveling Up
eveling up in video games means that you’ve gained enough experience to move on up to the next level of the game. There is much less need for testing because getting to the next level is like passing the test. The design of the game shows that if you keep leveling up and finish, you passed.

lasses are designed to get the lowest common denominator engaged and everyone is tested at the same time after the same amount of learning, while games are an interactive medium in which players can progress at their own pace while trying and failing in a safe environment.

raditionally students study for a test and the goal is the grade, not necessarily understanding the concepts. However with video games, students solve problems with what they know, and don’t just memorize facts.

Decision Making and Problem Solving
he educational value of game is not based only on the content of the game, but also on the way they are played. Games force you to decide, to choose, to prioritize. All the intellectual benefits of gaming derive from this fundamental virtue, because learning how to think is ultimately learning how to make the right decisions. Many games are very complex with hundreds of commands and variables. This cultivates critical thinking.

tudies have also shown that video games can improve players’ vision, attention and certain cognitive skills. Study participants also performed better than non-gamers on certain tests of speed, accuracy and multitasking.

Risk Taking
Risk taking is encouraged because you can just start over again. It creates opportunities for learners to — learn using the process of trial and error.

Goals and Feedback
Video games provide clear goals and immediate feedback that provide the best learning experiences.

Collaboration
any games require collaboration. Members of a team must work together on a problem by contributing different forms of skill and expertise. This is great training for future job success.

Simulated Experiences
ames are a form of learning from experience. Players are given well-designed experiences that they cannot have in the real world. Video games intermix instruction and demonstration, a more effective learning technique than the style currently provided in most classrooms.

Learning is fun
ideo gaming has the potential to capture the interests of students and teach them difficult subjects that might not have interested them. It is a great way to integrate tech and goal-oriented learning because of their longer attention span.