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Introduction A. Opener. II. Thesis statement: Online games benefiting students in much ways, such as develop cognitive skills, risk taking, electronic communication styles, entertainment, and nurture social interaction. III. Children can improve their problem solving and cognitive development skills through playing online games.
IV. Online gaming could make the player to estimate or study the mind of the other player. V. Online gaming helps in children’s confidence on what they are doing which later could lead to risk taking or no fears.
VI. Children get familiar with the computer fundamentals, networks or Internet and chase on the computer technologies and telecommunications. VII. Online gaming entertains children and helps in managing stress which can caused many harmful diseases.
VIII. Online gaming helps in interaction between the players in a way that connect player in a same networks and play a same game together. IX. Pitfalls and influences that online gaming can make on children while the points should consider on online gaming. X.
The ways on how online gaming can distract a learner or a student who is concentrating on the studies. XI. ConclusionAre Children Benefits from Online Gaming? The term ‘online’ has a different meaning in terms of computer technology and telecommunication. Generally, ‘online’ is a state of connectivity. A paly or sport are some of the forms of game. A competitive one played depending to rules and decided by skill, strength, or luck.
Therefore based on the both meanings, online gaming can be defined as technologies which connect players together in a network. According to Armitage, Claypool, & Branch (2006), online games are played over some form of computer network, usually on the Internet. In fact, the main key to the game’s success is actually when consider how players learn to play a game which mostly of time might not seem very important (Armitage et al., 2006).When the player first approaches the game, they must learn to play which goes deeper than just understanding the rules of the game (Armitage et al.
, 2006). Based on Armitage et al. (2006), it includes analysing and learning how to use the interface, how to interact with the game, and how the concept behind the game works. Online games benefiting students in much ways, such as develop cognitive skills, risk taking, electronic communication styles, entertainment, and nurture social interaction. Firstly, students get a chance to develop their cognitive skills when playing online games.
As everyone well known, working on problem-solving can indirectly help in development of brain functioning (Claire & Cronin, 2012).However according to Fielding (2013), sometimes it is tough to practise these skills in a regular manner when detecting the correct games or person to play with. Nowadays player from all age groups looking more on fun challenges and memory powers up in online game which focusing at attention and quick reacting (Claire & Cronin, 2012). Examples of games which are easy to learn and take part, yet gives an on-going difficulty for players are Mahjong or Sudoku as puzzle games, Slingo MatchUms as trivia games, and Quiximity as strategy games.
According to Fielding (2013), middle age groups are always seems to use only a little part of their brains, while rest keep inactive. Players in the games need to be more precise when thinking, considering, speeding and recalling or in simple words can say as work out on inactive parts of brains (Fielding, 2013). By fills up the maximum parts of the brains, a long terms sharpen memory can be gain (Fielding, 2013).These same difficulties can produce a memory development for students as they growing up when quickness and thinking skill might not be as much as wiser student, memory and considering skills would be (Fielding, 2013).
There have been no game, no childhood growth (Claire & Cronin, 2012). Different physical game with these days’ excessive online games gives healthy balance and supply the brain the exercise it needs (Fielding, 2013). According to Honey Singh (2009), focusing on the particular skill tests and analyses the player accordingly are what do called as a good game. Thoroughly planning, and reactions, sharper thinking, fast actions and long focusing skills are just some of the criteria that the player is able to knock down when one plays on good mind games (Honey Singh, 2009), .
Therefore, a child who plays online game get sharpens the skills even from the young age and the skills may very useful once they step into working environment.Secondly, online gaming targets more than just increase of time on task. According to Salonius & Gelfond (2005), the use of game mechanics with a reliance on Activity Theory aims to increase learner autonomy, socialization, competition, self-expression, and discovery. Weaving game mechanics into the classroom helps to satisfy learner needs of object-orientedness, hierarchical structure, internalization or externalization, development, and mediation (Salonius & Gelfond, 2005). Online gaming also facilitates a task-based teaching methodology (Salonius & Gelfond, 2005).
Online games help also to identify task between both in mind of the students and the mind of the instructors (Salonius & Gelfond, 2005).Salonius & Gelfond (2005) explained that this clarification of task focuses learner’s attention on the essential aspects of the task and thereby facilitating completion rather than necessitating task definition. Therefore, it makes children to understand the lessons in class quicker and clearer compare to other children’s who are not exposed to it. Thirdly, online gaming can improve one’s ability on risk taking. Ray (2004) explained that players are more willing to take a risk to learn the provided challenge in online games. Online game player more probably prefer to learn by doing (Ray 2004).
Sophieanne (2010) explained that being a successful player could boost up a belief of being able to done things through own effort. Online gaming is also one way of practicing own selves an interaction to others even through virtual methods (Sophieanne 2010). Children who are more familiar on risk taking from very small age are continually strike to achieve success in life (Ray 2004).Varieties of games which are more onto risk taking are Counter’s Strike, DOTA and Matrix Bullettime. Moreover, according to More4kids (2009), the computer technology and telecommunication skills are very vital for today’s world. Therefore when a child plays online games, it has been found that these skills can be developed (More4kids, 2009).
Today’s workforce look more than education to employ one in their company and since computer rule the world today, knowledge in computers and the Internet are becoming essential skills that are required to enter the workforce today (More4kids, 2009). Online gaming may very well contribute to the child’s ability to succeed in their educational career, as well as their professional career in future. Children these days can be classified as all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.These children are always under constant pressure and have no social life. According to Wankel & Blessinger (2012), stress can caused some health problems like nausea, diarrhoea, indigestion and arthritis.
All this problems can be least down by doing activity which would relaxes mind. Wankel & Blessinger (2012) explained that online gaming are one of effective way which would least down the stress and helps in health lifestyle. Besides that, this way of relaxing mind could also help children to manage stress even in their professional career, which means that it help in managing the stress for a long time. Next one of the advantage online games is the ability to connect players into multiplayer games, although single-player online games are quite common as well (Claire & Cronin, 2012).
Nurture social interaction also can enhance through online gaming.The part of what makes online games highly interesting is the social interaction between the players (Claire & Cronin, 2012). Claire & Cronin (2012) say through online interactions, players would get a chance to build both casual and meaningful relationships. By spending time in multiplayer games, online game players also have the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and even meet new people (Claire & Cronin, 2012). Play online games while chatting with partners or competitors adds a higher level of enjoyment to the game (Claire & Cronin, 2012). Players always find that partnering up with someone or cooperating to overcome difficulties through personal experience and know-how can be as satisfying online as it is in the real world.
There a number of pitfalls and points to consider in online gaming. Context refers to the idea that online gaming lends more readily to online, distance, and independent study courses (Martin & Wagstaff, 2012).These courses tend to have most of their date and interaction online and the inclusion of game characteristics such as badges, appointments, quests, and social engagement are both easily produced by instructors and more readily accepted among the students (Martin & Wagstaff, 2012). For example, an individual’s achievement badges are more easily displayed on their online profile than on a classroom wall. In most cases; traditional students already have appointments to come to class at a certain time, whereas independent study courses might benefits more from specific online engagements that provide additional exposure for students (Martin & Wagstaff, 2012). According to Gibbons (2007), dilution refers to the idea that online gaming distracts learners from what is really at stake.
In some cases, this is a good thing. Math Ninja, for example, requires players to respond to timed flashcard-type math problems in order to win ammunition. Users are distracted from the fact that they are simple doing mundane, albeit disguised, math flashcards (Gibbons, 2007).Other games like Pioneer trail encourage users to spread the news about their achievements or needs such that users will often post more than 50 comments on a friend’s Facebook wall. As conclusion, children really get benefits from online gaming neither from education nor other fields. Online gaming has its own pros and cons but when aiming to children, online gaming has more advantages then disadvantages.
In my own opinion, parents should not need much worry about their children’s future who always on online gaming and remember without a game, childhood growth cycle is not completed.
