Minecraft and Candy Crush 'benefit children's logical thinking'

Mathematicians are saying that computer games could be used in schools.

Researchers at UCC have found that certain games have a beneficial affect on children's logical thinking.

Minecraft and Candy Crush have been singled out for praise by the mathematicians.

Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick said that teaching children how the logic they use applies to these games will give them a better understanding of how they work.

"We know that the children are playing the games, we're actually going to allow them to see that the games have got logic in the background," he said.

"We think that by developing their understanding of how logic is used in the computer games that they're playing anyway, that they can have a better understanding of how computers actually work."

A project, called Boole2School, is being led by UCC staff as part of the George Boole 200 programme of outreach activities.

Kathy Bunney, project support officer for George Boole 200, told UCC alumni magazine Independent Thinking: "It’s introducing a new type of maths into the classroom, and it’s slightly off-piste from their curriculum – the kids are not only learning mathematics, but logical thinking.

"A lot of the puzzles follow the game style of Cluedo: using detective work to eliminate people and figure out the one true solution.

"That type of logical thinking is something that will help them in many different subjects, not just mathematics."