The Future of Video Games: Enhancing Education

1. The Future of Video Games: Enhancing Education By: Stephen McKenzie, Bryce Gallagher, Kelsey Johnson, and Nick Cortina

2. Introduction • Video games are everywhere from your own living room, to hotels, stadiums, malls, hospitals, and now even in classrooms. • Intensive research and studies show that video games increase learning efficiency • Video games are used in all levels of education and now are even being used in the military, engineering, and medical fields. • Business Employers are discovering that games can help build analytical thinking, improve team building skills, multi-tasking, and problem solving skills.

3. Studies show that playing video games enhance brain chemistry by stimulating substantial dopamine release which increases memory. • Video games encourage students to spend more time learning outside of the classroom because they are being more entertained and intellectually challenged at the same time. • Some educators disagree with the use of video games because they feel that it is just a scheme to help boost sales and feel as if they are not an efficient media for educational purposes. • Despite what some educators feel, the data that we’ve collected from many studies prove that video games are a great supplement to learning.

4. Video Games and Engineering • With the use of video games, students can improve math and science skills significantly. • Right now in the U.S. we are facing a crisis where we’re going to run out of engineers in the future due to the shortage of engineering students. • Video games aid in improving skills in science because they help with experimental learning, inquiry based learning, self efficacy, goal setting, cooperation, and continuous feedback. • Studies show that lecture based learning that is being taught in the educational system today is inferior to problem solving, and active learning formats

5. Video Games and the Medical Field • Surgeons are using the Nintendo Wii to help them understand step-by-step procedures better so that will benefit their surgery performances. • In one small study, medical educators found out that surgeons who played the Nintendo Wii beforehand, and performed virtual gallbladder surgery, scored 48% higher than those who didn’t play the game beforehand. • Most virtual programs cost thousands of dollars, while the Nintendo Wii only costs $250, so not only do you learn more but you also save a lot of money • In another study, a group of researchers discovered that diabetic children that used a video game with diabetes control themes had a 77% decrease in emergency room visits.

6. Video Games and The Military • Across the United States and Europe, military researchers are busily exploring potential video games. • In the past soldiers have learned their trade by sweating and straining on the training fields, but in today's world they will also be able to learn how to fight through video games. • It is estimated that the military video game industry is about a 35 billion dollar industry, but they are still a cost effective solution because they don’t have to use equipment and expend their resources and can use video games to their advantage

7. Simulations with lifelike 3d graphics that can be played on a 700 dollar lap top can be used to teach tasks like disarming and IED to fixing tanks and are available any time anywhere to soldiers • Military saw an increase in recruits after they released video game technologies such as America’s Army.

8. Video Game Designers of the Future • There are more then 100 universities in America that offer majors in video game design along with even more over sea’s. • The students in each program learn to be efficient team players and are trained in all the facets of game development workflow from initial idea to final delivery. • As of now Libraries are also working with video game companies to make learning easier and more efficient for this day and age. • Games can easily be incorporated as a core library service or into existing library services.

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