The Importance Of Video Games In Education

BODY Games in the past were viewed in the light of fun and leisure, but now it is slowly being recognized as a tool for learning where students are being engaged and immersed on the subject being learned (Annetta, 2008, p 229). This explains the steady application of video games in aiding different teaching approaches and experimenting with its use. According to Garris et. al (2002, p 441) there are several reasons for the popularity of video games as an educational tool; first, is that its use made a major leap or shift from traditional learning to a more learner-centered approach which puts the learner in an active role in the learning process. Second, is how it shifts from the learning by listening mode of instruction to the “learning
Games that need to be developed to aid the learning process must strive to be research related and inquiry based. These new freed of games to be developed for learning purposes must require the use of logic, memory, problem-solving, critical thinking skills, visualization, and discovery. Generally, these video games should be effective in enhancing motivation and increasing student interest in a subject matter. In a study conducted by Ruggerio (2013) focusing on the perceptions of teachers regarding the use of video games the aid of learning and applying them in the classroom setting, the results have shown that those teachers employ it have used it to reinforce content, problem solving, authentic learning situations, for differentiating instruction, stimulate to engage the class to make it more fun and last but not least for authentic assessment and for
People cannot be agents of their own learning if they cannot make decisions about their learning will work. Students and learners should try new styles. Good games achieve this goal in one (or both) of two ways. In some games, players are able to customize the game play to fit their learning and playing styles. In others, the game is designed to allow different styles of learning and playing to work. Classrooms adopting this principle would allow students to discover their favored learning styles and to try new ones without fear. In the act of customizing their own learning, students would learn a good deal not only about how and why they learn, but about learning and thinking