Gaming arenas like Tabula Digita, Second Life and the River City Project are taking the educational world by storm.

Data shows repeated exposure to video games strengthens the ability to create mental maps, promote social relations and create new and exciting dynamics surrounding the learning process. Additionally, students are able to respond quicker to unpredicted stimuli and focus on several things at once.

This form of “edutainment” does have its naysayers who believe students are just playing games, which offer no real benefit to the day-to-day standards-based learning development. Is it possible this exciting phenomenon can actually move education into the 21st Century while promoting an environment of learners?

Cathleen Richardson is an Educational Consultant and eLearning Specialist.

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