Randy Kulman - Using Popular Video Games to Improve Executive Functions and SEL Skills
Presenter: Randy Kulman, President, LearningWorks for Kids
Video games can improve a variety of cognitive skills such as attention, fluid reasoning, and processing speed. Recent studies have also demonstrated how playing selected video games can directly improve executive functioning and social emotional learning skills, keys for problem solving, collaboration, and self control. This presentation will review the research connecting video game play and improvements seen on skills such as cognitive flexibility, working memory, and social awareness. In addition, it will identify dozens of popular games including Minecraft, Portal 2, and Angry Birds where executive and SEL skills are practiced. Then the presentation will identify methods for transforming game-based skills into real world competencies. Specific previewing, metacognitive, and generalization strategies that optimize skill development from game play will be explored. Suggestions for game publishers for modding popular games and embedding generalization strategies in order to improve executive functioning and SEl skills into games will be discussed.
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