Some aspects of education -- especially mathematics, which requires repetitive practice -- seem like they could easily be adapted to the video game format, where players are encouraged to play over and over again until they master new skills.
A study of the effectiveness of one video game designed to teach linear algebra, called DimensionM, revealed a significant difference between a control group, who received traditional mathematical instruction, and a treatment group, who played the DimensionM game.
Owing perhaps to the limited statistical power of their study (which included about 200 kids), the researchers don't make any attempt to quantify the difference that the game made, other than to say that the students who played it in school did better. Past studies have revealed mixed results on the use of games in the classroom, but the authors argue that this is precisely the point -- any game that's to be used in school should be evaluated in a controlled study first.
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