Digital Games and Learning

Why do we have to scrutinize the influence of digital games in today'seducation? Today our children are immersed in electronic media. They arestarting to expose and to use technologies and media at a muchyounger age than previously thought. As a matter of fact the uses ofcomputer-assisted instruction (CAI) and multimedia in education have beenparts of the instructional system. Interestingly despite having the samemultimedia capability as CAI software the potential learning impact of digitalgames is often discounted by parents and educators. This negativeimpression toward children playing digital games comes from results ofoutdated studies about children's game-playing behaviors. The purpose ofthis book is to raise the level of awareness of the importance of digital gamesin child learning. This study tries to create a connection between digitalgames with children's cognition and determine if digital games facilitatechildren's cognitive learning processes. The book is addressed toprofessionals in instructional technology like educators and instructiondesigners. It is also directed towards researchers in children's play computerand video games and instructional materials.