To build better bridges we need to play more video games

Conventional wisdom: sometimes it’s good stuff and sometimes it falls a bit short. For centuries, popular opinion had it that the Earth was at the center of the solar system. That one fell a bit short. On the other hand, conventional wisdom dictates that a diet rich in vegetables and low in fat will promote better health. That one seems to hold water. But when the first generation of video games came out, so too was born the perception that they are bad news for the brain, promote laziness, and dull the senses. Conventional wisdom completely missed the boat on that one, and we’re here not only to clear the good name of video games, but also to extol their virtues. For years, video games were the scourge of parents and teachers everywhere. They didn’t  appear  to improve players’ lives in any productive way—so the thinking went—like getting some exercise, drinking plenty of water, or reading anything from the  100 Best Novels of All Time  list. There is a formula for succeeding in school—so this thinking went—that consists of doing homework (well), studying for tests (and scoring well), and participating in extracurricular activities (at least somewhat well). If students neglect any of the above in favor of a few hours with a game console, then this current (yet wrong) thinking decrees that students are hurting their chances of doing well in school—and that means  in life. But little do people know that when kids and teens (even grownups) play video games, they’re actually helping themselves to develop parts of their brains that give them an edge to do well in school—and  in life. It just took a trickle of research to convince a growing number of experts that video games are in fact good for students’ brains. Perhaps a steady stream of it will convince everyone else! This is what we know now, thanks to neuroscientists, psychologists and others who have contributed to this growing body of research: video games help us develop our spatial reasoning, which is the ability to mentally move around shapes, visualize their patterns, and keenly understand a world in 3D. We all utilize this ability, perhaps more than we realize. We use it for mundane tasks such as organizing boxes in a moving van, packing a suitcase, or mapping out a route for a road trip. But we also use it for more complex ones, such as rendering the design plans for buildings, bridges, or airplanes. Of course, some people have more developed spatial reasoning than others. However, just like we can learn to improve our bowling game, to increase our foreign language skills, or to finally beat our toughest competitor in Words with Friends, it’s something at which we can all get better at with time and practice. In our last  post, we talked about the importance of why spatial reasoning hasn’t been given the same formal education attention as other subjects (think math and verbal skills) for a variety of reasons. (Some of those are more like theories, but convincing nonetheless.) Until the time that it is given more attention in school and made a higher priority, video games offer a very direct (and fun) way to hone one’s spatial reasoning ability. Before you go with the conventional thinking that video games are the sole purview of dudes, we’d like to point out that  45% of gamers are female  (booya!). That’s why we agree with Annie Murphy Paul’s assertion in her article that â€Å"Girls Should Play More Video Games.† Here’s why it’s a really good idea to encourage younger girls to pick up gaming: highly technical fields like computer science and engineering (and many more) have a dearth of women. This means that somewhere somewhere along the way in school, girls are jumping off the â€Å"STEM† (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) bandwagon. But this isn’t because girls have less spatial reasoning ability than boys, as some have long speculated. New research, conducted by David Reilly and David Neumann of Griffith University in Australia, confirms what Psychologist Sharon Nash argued 30 years ago: â€Å"Gender-role identity can either promote or inhibit optimum development of cognitive ability in highly gender-typed domains, such as spatial and verbal ability. [†¦] masculine identification leads to cultivation of spatial, mathematical, and scientific skills, whereas feminine identification facilitates verbal and language abilities.† Annie Murphy Paul, in her aforementioned  article, references another  recent study  from the University of Toronto that found that people who play an action-based video game â€Å"’can virtually eliminate’ the gender difference in a basic capacity they call spatial attention, while at the same time reducing the gender difference in the ability to mentally rotate objects, a higher-level spatial skill.† She concludes the following: â€Å"A meta-analysis  of 217 research studies, published in Psychological Science last year, concluded that ‘spatial skills are malleable, durable and transferable,’ [and] can be improved by training; these improvements persist over time; and they ‘transfer’ to tasks that are different from the tasks used in the training.† This is, obviously, good news. Especially since Paul mentions that a mere 20-minute spatial training session can make a difference in the ability to solve math problems. In these modern times, young ladies are not exactly dissuaded from gaming, but it also may not be an activity toward which they naturally gravitate. If they learn of the benefits to be had—and their parents and teachers know it, too—then they just might be persuaded to give it a try. And they just might get hooked. This is a good thing. Until schools jump on board to allot time for students to develop their spatial skills (we know video games are only one way to do so), it will have to be something they cultivate on their own time. And as more research pours in, it’s only a matter of time before an evening parent-child discussion might start out something like this: â€Å"Did you play your video games today?† What will be the conventional wisdom then? Photo courtesy of  Wlodi. Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog  Should you choose a Master of International Business or MBA program?  or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI Instagram Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .