Synthesis Draft

Computers are becoming widely more popular in today's school setting allowing new ways of learning to be integrated into education, like video games, but losing the sense of teacher student relationship. Computers were first seen as glorious invention. Students would no longer have to use pen and paper to write but now a keyboard. Then the internet came, which allowed students to not have to spend hours in the library researching books but simply type in the subject of interest on the web. The same about video games is true. Children and teenagers were excited about this new toy. Some felt it was isolating children and non educational. However, over years video games have transform into learning devices. Yet, it is hard to say weather integrating computers and video games into the educational system is a positive or negative choice.


When older generations were attending schools filmstrips and books were the focus in class. In order to learn information, students would learn from textbooks. Writing a research paper would mean for a student to look through encyclopedias and other historian books for days. Then they would have to write it out with pen and paper, which can take much of an individuals time. Then computers were introduced. This eliminated typewriters and paper. It began saving time for students. Then the interent allowed students to have all the information they need a click away. Also, teacher were able to place PowerPoint's and notes online for the students to see and learn from.



Video games is a large industry for children and teenagers. Each year a newer and more extravagant Nintendo system will come about. Children and teenagers will rush out to get the system and to play the new games available. Yet, many question if these games can be used for learning purposes. According to the author of, "Video Games and the Future of Learning," he states, "They let players think, talk, and act—they let players inhabit—roles otherwise inaccessible to them." Video games allow the player to make their own choices, create their own worlds, and problem solving. Having to figure out to complete a level or how to accomplish the goal of the game helps teach strategy. Video games are not only helping learning in the school system but also in the working field. The military has introduced video games to introduce the civilians to military ideology. Also, doctors are using video games to help perfect their surgical techniques.

With every new idea comes the negatives. When an individual has access to an unlimited amount of knowledge and information at their fingertips, question arise. Not all information on the internet is accurate unlike books. Not knowing what is fact or fiction can cause problems when writing a research paper for example. Also, with all this information on the internet makes the student have the ability to simply copy and past information from the web onto a Microsoft Word document. Having the internet allows teachers to communicate with students via email. This is losing the interaction between student and teacher. They no longer have the one on one relationship that should be there. Video games also isolate teenagers. When walking down a dorm hallways, you will see several rooms with a kid sitting on a chair playing a video game instead of interacting with other students.

In conclusion, the introducing of computers and video games into the learning system can be both beneficial and harmful. They can definitely both be educational with limited amount of use. Having ability to look up information on the internet is a wonderful tool to have, but knowing what information is usable is something that needs to be taught to students and teachers. Also, video games can be a learning device but one has to realize not all video games should be interpreted this way. Some are pure fun while others have lessons within the game itself. Having new technology emerging into our educational systems is going to broaden our way of learning. It will be interesting to see what can be next new way of learning.