Microsoft To Research Education-Gaming Link
It's a well known fact that puzzle games and other brain training
exercises actually enhance mental stimulation, but what about titles
such as Crysis and Gears of War? Microsoft, of all companies, is
looking to find a definitive answer to that by sinking $1.5 million
into a research initiative that will, at its core, explore the
educational link to video games. Many gamers have confessed that even
first person shooters have sharpened their reaction time and taught
them to think in more quantitative ways, and while it's obviously
possible to go overboard and allow games to become a distraction,
Microsoft thinks there could be a balance where it's actually
beneficial.
According to John Nordlinger, head of gaming research for Microsoft: "We want to figure out what's compelling about the games. If we can find out how to make the games fun and not make them so violent, that would be ideal." The $1.5 million is going to start The Games for Learning Institute, which will be a joint venture with New York University along with numerous other colleges and institutions. The goal, we're told, is to "see whether video games — and not just software specifically designed to be educational — can draw students into math, science and technology-based programs."
In order to test that hypothesis, Microsoft has already begun lining up
middle school students to study. Many others who are interested in
finding an answer to this question suggest that having Microsoft's name
behind it will add a lot of credibility, and besides, if there really
can be educational benefits to gaming, shouldn't educators be informed?
We're sure it'd make their jobs a lot easier if they could assign 30
minutes of gaming for homework versus a two-page summary on the
evolution of a rectangle.
According to John Nordlinger, head of gaming research for Microsoft: "We want to figure out what's compelling about the games. If we can find out how to make the games fun and not make them so violent, that would be ideal." The $1.5 million is going to start The Games for Learning Institute, which will be a joint venture with New York University along with numerous other colleges and institutions. The goal, we're told, is to "see whether video games — and not just software specifically designed to be educational — can draw students into math, science and technology-based programs."
In order to test that hypothesis, Microsoft has already begun lining up
middle school students to study. Many others who are interested in
finding an answer to this question suggest that having Microsoft's name
behind it will add a lot of credibility, and besides, if there really
can be educational benefits to gaming, shouldn't educators be informed?
We're sure it'd make their jobs a lot easier if they could assign 30
minutes of gaming for homework versus a two-page summary on the
evolution of a rectangle.
