Social Media & Gaming in the Classroom

Academic Benefits of Social Networking and Gaming

Can social media interactions and online gaming actually be a good thing? There are mixed reviews, but videos like the one to the left are quite compelling. Below are some ways that students benefit academically from using social networking and gaming apps in the classroom.

Enhanced memory, brain speed, and concentration

Games involving critical thinking and strategy require students to repeatedly assimilate information. Over time, this results in the improvement of the short and long term memory as well as the brain's processing speed.

Boosts focus and engagement

Students love to connect through social media, so why not use it for academic purposes? Additionally, games foster creativity and imagination, which boosts focus and increases student engagement. They also promote perseverance as students work toward achieving a goal.

Supports the development of lifelong skills

During multiplayer games, students learn how to strategize, assess risks and rewards, and think flexibly. These skills will not only support them in the classroom; they can be applied in the future as they enter the workforce (InternetMatters.org, 2020).

Benefits of Social Networking and Gaming in School

Communication & Collaboration

Not only does social networking and gaming have unique ways of building relationships and bringing people together, there are studies and theories suggesting that we learn better when we communicate and collaborate with others. Providing students opportunities to socialize and game throughout the learning process increases engagement (Tomaszewski, 2012).

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Many online games require quick thinking and strategizing. In order to win, students have to be a few steps ahead. Critical thinking and logic-based problem solving are skills they will need later in life to be successful and think divergently.

Responsibility & Citizenship

By incorporating social networking and gaming into the classroom, teachers are giving students opportunities to practice digital responsibility and digital citizenship, two important skills that will protect and prosper them in the future.

Builds empathy and cultural awareness

As students interact through social media sites and apps, they can experience a shift in their perspective and have their eyes opened to new cultures and new ways of thinking (Bird, 2019). This new knowledge can help them come to understand and empathize with others.

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