Interest in Videogames grows

From eSchool News. Many researchers say video games can be effective teaching tools to promote student learning, and interest in developing educational games is growing. One researcher found that video games enhance cognitive skills like monitoring several objects at the same time and multitasking or task-switching. "The next step should be [to] take the violence out of action video games and use the same brain-building characteristics in these action video games to make [high]-quality education games," said Daphne Bavelier, a cognitive sciences professor at the University of Rochester.

Ed videogames mix cool with purpose

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A growing number of children, reports the New York Times, are playing educational video games as part of their school curriculum, in after-school programs, or via the web from home.

Researcher believes games and Facebook can build memory

According to this BBC News report, Sudoku and Facebook may improve your ability to recall and use pertinent information, while texting and Twitter may dull your wits. University of Stirling psychologist Dr. Tracy Alloway has studied "working memory" and advocates mental exercises that form connections between pieces of information. A complex war game, for example, forces the brain to remember and plan ahead. On YouTube or Twitter, however, "your attention span is being reduced," Alloway says.

Video Game: The New Book Report?

The Minneapolis St. Paul Star Tribune newspaper reports on one local teacher who is using video games to teach middle schoolers a variety of skills. And while they're playing they're also taking notes, collaborating to write explanations of how the game is played, and preparing a multi-media presentation about the game.