Play to learn, Math was never this appealing

It’s official kids, video games raise math scores, according to a study done by the University of Central Florida. Oh wait, there is a catch, it requires you play immersive educational video games, but either way it’s games, and what better way to learn, right?

The study was done over a period of 18 weeks, concluding with a Benchmark test. On average, students in the experimental group scored 8.07 points higher, while students in the control group scored only 3.74 points higher. This supports the theory that kids that actually get involved with loving learning are far more successful than the children that get caught up in the tedium of every day education.

These studies were performed based on the need to reach out to a new generation of students. Staff realized that they needed unconventional teaching methods to reach the students and help create that spark and desire to learn. Conducted by a team of faculty and graduate students, the study consisted of 193 algebra and pre-algebra students and 10 teachers.

Ultimately this study is long over due and reminiscent of the games that are already out on the market for the younger children, and yet there is a huge gap. JumpStart and Reader Rabbit started this trend many years ago reaching children from ages 0-12. Educational games stopped reaching individuals after that age, at least anything that was appealing. Kudos to University of Central Florida for realizing that no matter the age, if you are bored learning with longevity ceases to exist.