1. There are advantages as well as disadvantages to using games and other multimedia activities as a part of learning. While it is true that the use of games can have disadvantages such as wasting time, entertaining instead of informing, and causing problems with class control, the advantages far outweigh these. Game-playing can promote active learning, teamwork, and heightened motivation, and they are often opportunities to engage in problem solving, communication, and critical thinking (Patel, 2008, p. 21). Games can incorporate repetition to help students remember important information, and they can help students build confidence with the subject matter that improves their interest in the class. Overall, games can impact learning positively.
Games do affect different types of learners differently, however, and these differences are related to the type of game and how it is played. For example, games that require learners to visually distinguish one object from another help visual learners learn more effectively, while games that depend upon oral instruction or other sound-related components are more effective for auditory learners. Games involving activity, such as relay races or simulation games work best for kinesthetic learners. Some games incorporate all of these components and can therefore be effective for all types of learners. On the other hand, games that are not fun do not really appreciably improve learning for any type of learner, regardless of learning type.
2. Prelicensure nursing students can certainly gain the didactic knowledge and skills they need from distance education. Distance education can provide them with videos, access to libraries containing top medical journals, and a range of other learning materials, as well as a certain measure of collaborative work if they are members of a virtual learning team. For clinical knowledge and skills, however, distance le
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