Do video games affect someone’s learning? Celina Odachowski, Bianca Grech, Brittany Sorenson

Do Video Games Affect Someone’s Learning? Violence and Video Games Can violent video games lead to aggressive behaviour? Learning and Video Games Do education video games really assist in someone’s learning Virtual Reality and Video Games How do virtual reality video games affect someone’s social behaviour? We believe video games have the ability to affect the way someone learns, and what they learn. Video games can be very influential, especially to those with impressionable minds, such as children and adolescents.

Violence and Video Games Aggressive Behaviour In Teens In a recent research study, adolescents played two different types of video games for 30 minutes. Teens playing the violent game showed increased activity in the Amygdala. The adolescent playing the violent game had a decrease of activity in brain areas involved in self-control, inhibition and attention. Many studies such as that have been conducted, most with results pointing to an increase in aggressive behaviour. Celina Odachowski

Violence and Video Games Pros and Cons of Video Games Pros Cons The ESA ‘s (Entertainment Software Association) studies provide evidence that games present benefits for developing decision-making skills & bettering reaction times. Playing fast paced action games can improve people's eyesight. Researchers have discovered that playing violent video games enhanced the ability of young game players to discriminate between subtle contrasts in colour or shades of grey. Studies have shown that violent games can: - increase physiological arousal - increase aggressive thoughts - increase aggressive behaviour Decision making skills are also affected, studies have shown violent video games are likely to influence someone to solve problems with violence.

Violence and Video Games Statistics It has been estimated that up to 89% of games contain some violent content. The IEAA of Australia found average age of Australian gamers is 28. Over 50 per cent of gamers are over 18. Nearly 70% of Australians play video games Females now comprise 46% of the gaming population 95% of Australian children aged 6-10 play games

Learning and Video Games By Bianca Grech

Do they help with learning? Research shows that people who play video games benefit from them. Therefore video games do help with learning. How do they help? Certain games such as The Sims, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Spore and many more involve such virtual skills as creating, planning, building and developing. These skills are very important for the education of an individual in the future. They can benefit a person’s virtual skills or even hand-eye co-ordination. PlayStation title Buzz!: The Schools Quiz has been accepted into some school curricula. Other games are equally educational and involve LOTE, algebra or grammar.

* Read and learn new words * Think logically and creatively Playing both adventure, quest, and simulation-type recreational games and curriculum-based educational games gives children enthusiasm to develop the many skills in order to solve problems and reach goals. These skills are: * Read and learn new words * Think logically and creatively * Observe carefully * Plan strategies * Follow maps * Work together as a team Certain types of video games can have beneficial effects, improving gamers' handiness as well as their ability to problem solve. Attributes such as those have proven useful to not only to students but surgeons. Researchers found that advanced video game skill and experience are significant ways of improving capabilities.

What are some statistics that show the benefits of video games? Further statistics show that from a survey of 700 children aged 7 to 16 they found that children preferred to play games in pairs or small groups. A study of 33 laparoscopic surgeons determined that those who played video games were 27 percent faster at advanced surgical procedures and made 37 percent fewer errors compared to those who did not play video games. A second study of 303 laparoscopic surgeons (82 percent men; 18 percent women) also showed that surgeons who played video games that require skills and hand agility performed a drill testing and these skills were significantly faster than the surgeons who didn’t play video games.

Do people recommend video games and learning? People recommend video games for learning because of all the benefits they can give to an individual.

Survey of our class Out of 16 teenage girls aged 15-16, nine play video games often, three play video games sometimes and four don’t play them at all. Seven people play virtual reality or lifestyle games such as Sims or World of War Craft. Five play violent games and three play educational games. Tally Yes 9 Sometimes 3 No 4 Violent Games 5 Educational Games Lifestyle/ Virtual Reality 7

What is a virtual reality game? There are many types of Virtual reality games. These games are ones, where the user has a character or avatar to represent themselves, and can move around the virtual world as this character, such as in Sims. Some Virtual reality games allow communication with others, such as World of Warcraft and Runescape. These games usually include team work, relationships, combat/battle or all of these.

How virtual reality games can help people’s social behaviour: Virtual realities can aid people in developing their social skills and helps them improve their communication techniques. These games can also be used as an additional social outlets for people, when used in moderation.

How Virtual reality games can disadvantage people’s social lifestyle? People may become so attached to a virtual reality that they can find it difficult to integrate into normal society properly. If the virtual reality game is violent, young children especially can find it difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality, and may act out violent behaviour used in the fictional world.

Conclusion Do video games affect someone’s learning? In conclusion, we believe video games do have the nature to change the way someone learns. Video games are influential and have a tendency to affect those who play them. There have been many studies reinforcing this fact, and as the number of gamers increases, the power of its influence will too.