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Here's
another benefit a child can get from playing tactical computer games. A new study claims
that a six-year-old child who plays computer "mind" games or
memory-enhancer computer gaming programs is more likely able to get higher
grades in school.
Research
shows that computer games, particularly the ones designed to improve planning,
strategy and memory can also develop creative thinking ability among children.
The latest research is conducted by a group of researchers led by Andrea Goldin at the Physics Department, University
of Buenos Aire.
The team had been observing a total of 111 first-grader as respondents from two public schools in Argentina. These children belong to the low socioeconomic status. The group has been thoroughly scrutinizing each of these kids, allowing them to play selected computer games over a period of 10 weeks.
The team had been observing a total of 111 first-grader as respondents from two public schools in Argentina. These children belong to the low socioeconomic status. The group has been thoroughly scrutinizing each of these kids, allowing them to play selected computer games over a period of 10 weeks.
The
main objective of the study is to determine how such activity affects the
performance of each of these children in school.
Computer
games that are used for this experiment are those aimed at improving working
memory, planning and cognitive control necessary for purposeful, goal-directed
behavior.
Later
findings have shown that these training games have helped improve some but not
all aspects of a child's executive functions. Nevertheless, teachers of these
children have also noticed improvements. As measured by the teachers,
respondents of the said research have posted better grades in mathematics and
language.
According
to the authors' report, these games have equalized academic outcomes between
children who attended school regularly and those with irregular attendance due
to family and social circumstances.
Findings
then suggest that computer games that enhance executive functions on a child
can likewise yield to improvements in school performance's real-world measures.
A
complete article on this research labeled "Far transfer to language and
math of a short software-based gaming intervention," is currently
published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences or PNAS.
-AP
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