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Positive Link Between Video Games and Academic Performance, Study Suggests (theguardian.com)
Here's another report reaffirming that playing online video games doesn't necessarily hinder one with their grades. According to an analysis of data from over 12,000 high school students in Australia, children who play online video games tend to do better in academic science, maths and reading tests. The study says kids who played online games almost every day scored 15 points above average in maths and reading tests and 17 points above average in science. "The analysis shows that those students who play online video games obtain higher scores on Pisa (Program for International Student Assessment -- internationally recognized tests that are administered by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)) tests, all other things being equal," said Alberto Posso, from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology whp analyzed the data. "When you play online games you're solving puzzles to move to the next level and that involves using some of the general knowledge and skills in maths, reading and science that you've been taught during the day." The Guardian reports: The cause of the association between game playing and academic success is not clear from the research. It is possible that children who are gifted at maths, science and reading are more likely to play online games. Alternatively, it could be that more proficient students work more efficiently, and therefore have more free time, making online gaming a marker of possible academic ability rather than something that actively boosts performance. Posso also looked at the correlation between social media use and Pisa scores. He concluded that users of sites such as Facebook and Twitter were more likely to score 4% lower on average, and the more frequent the social networking usage, the bigger the difference. 78% of the teenagers said they used social networks every day. Other studies have found a link between heavy users of social networking and a low attention span, which is also linked to poorer academic performance, but the evidence is less than conclusive.
Another likely explanation is the parents' income level. Poor students tend not to be able to afford online gaming and also do less well in school.
"It is possible that children who are gifted at maths, science and reading are more likely to play online games."
I'd say this is the mostly likely truth here.
..but no sign of causality, as indicated in TFS. Perhaps it comes down to access to a computer, which could be an indicator of other learning opportunities?
People that play computer games tend to be:
1) Computer literate = average or greater intelligence and having the skills to self-teach technological skills.
2) Not dirt poor = having the many advantages of the middle class life.
3) Not have parents that are tyrannical puritans that discourage kids from learning.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
While I’m sure that playing problem-solving games hones problem solving skills, just making your kids play games isn’t going to make them math geniuses. In fact, for most kids, it would probably just make them waste time. Rather, it is an instinctive interest in puzzles that makes some people interested in games *and* STEM subjects.
And this link is going to just be statistical. I do computer engineering, and I have side interests in math, physics, linguistics, etc. But I really don’t like most video games. My wife has degrees in english, history, and law, and she kicks my butt at every game we play.
You are right, of course. Making your kids play video games may or may not make them smarter.
What I think is the important part is that letting your kids play video games will not make them stupid (on average).
stop the college for all push & have more vo-tech you know like Germany. Germany has good workers rights and Germany has a lower percentage of students go on to college (that is a good thing as they are learning real skills and not years of filler and fluff at a high cost.
I know plenty of smart people who failed out of college due to World of Warcraft. Some of them dropped the game and eventually got their degrees. Academic performance isn't strongly tied to intelligence, but to whether you show up to class and do the work.