Gaming often gets a bad rap as a time-wasting activity by older generations. At best, it frequently gets dismissed as “just” entertainment.
But there are always two sides to everything. There’s a reason why gamification has been trending in the educational sector. This is due to the fact that gaming can actually be a great way to promote learning and nurture cognitive skills.
Learning Statistics and Probability
Statistics and probability are fundamental mathematical subjects that help us in our everyday lives. The former helps us understand how to analyze past data, while the latter is the study of chance.
If you’ve been looking for a fun gateway to understand complex mathematical concepts such as these, the best place to venture into would be an online casino. After all, these platforms are chock full of games that rely on odds. For instance, users can opt to play dice games online like keno. You can usually play dice games by looking under the specialty category of online casinos, where you’ll get to see a varied selection of options.
For those who’ve never played such games, it’s pretty simple at face value; you only have to pick a random assortment of numbers – up to 15, to be more specific. However, as you play, you’ll start analyzing how likely it is for certain numbers to appear.
And you can also apply set keno strategies to increase your probability of winning. As such, this game makes for a great exercise in understanding these abstract concepts.
Apart from keno, another great game you can explore in the specialty section of online casinos is bingo. This is another top option where both statistics and probability play a hand in the game.
This subcategory of games features a wide variety of themes, such as bingo games with NFL motifs. The main difference is that instead of numbers, you rush the cards by looking for plays, penalties, and so on during the game.
Such a level of variety ensures that regardless of your preferences, you’ll find at least something that suits your tastes! All you need to do to better your understanding of statistics and probability is to register for an online casino and play away.
If you’re somewhat of a casual gamer, you may be worried about accessibility when it comes to these games. However, fret not, as you can enjoy them also on your smartphone and/or tablet, not just a gaming PC.
Generally speaking, there are countless games that require you to make decisions on uncertain outcomes. And while you may not see the benefits of this immediately, it often leads to a deeper assessment of risk, which is valuable in many parts of life.
Improving Hand-Eye Coordination
When it comes to cognitive skills, one of the most impactful to your day-to-day activities is hand-eye coordination. Whether you’re simply trying to catch something that almost fell to the floor or driving a car, having quick reflexes is highly important.
To improve upon this, you can enjoy a varied selection of fast-paced games that feature swift movements and split-second decisions. As an example, you can check out a PS5 racing game like Need for Speed Unbound or Gran Turismo 7.
Here, you’ll typically be racing against other competitors in different environments. While the main premise is to drive as correctly as possible, you’ll typically also have to dodge unexpected objects and make quick turns without crashing.
The repetition of said actions will naturally evolve into your brain learning how to communicate with your body more efficiently. So, as you progress your virtual skills via such games, you’ll notice that you become better at this in real life too.
Practicing Foreign Languages
One of the most important skills one can add to their resume is foreign languages. However, this is easier said than done, as learning a language is more than just memorizing words.
You have to understand the structure, the grammar, tones, and so much more. But this is where games, or gamified apps, can come in to help.
If you’re learning a new language, you can opt to play any future games using the target language. This will force you to familiarize yourself with it in a more entertaining and natural way, replicating the immersivity you’d get from visiting a country.
Alternatively, you could install a gamified language learning app like Duolingo. Here, you get to learn something new in a bite-size format that makes it more approachable.
The gamification comes from the fact that you can essentially level up as you learn, earning rewards and achievement badges. Moreover, you compete with other users trying to learn the same language and see who ends up at the top of their rank.
Conclusion
The next time you feel guilty about playing games, just know that subconsciously, you are gaining some vital skills. So, embrace this overlooked educational fact by picking up your favorite gaming device and have a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.