Gaming or Grading?

   The fine line between gaming, entertainment and academic     distractions.

This article was posted by Tuko news . use this link https://www.tuko.co.ke/editorial/opinion/587011-gaming-craze-grips-university-students-a-silent-threat-academic-focus/

By Joseph Owino Adongon

   A photo capturing students engaged in games within the classroom.

It was a chilly morning at Moi University, and I had covered myself with a thick jacket to keep me warm from the biting cold wind that sliced through my body as I trudged towards Lecture Hall 1 for an early morning lecture. In an attempt to remain alert, I noticed one of my classmates, fully absorbed not paying attention to the lecture, but gazing at his mobile phone screen. He was playing a Pro Evolution Soccer, presently eFootball, game. Other than this, Dream League Soccer (DLS) has been an incredible success. Such games have diversified from their earliest days as mere mobile or console games; they've become campus fads. Owing to their addictive quality and accessibility, PES and DLS are now favorite activities of the majority of university students. Despite the strict policies from lecturers in which phones are silent until the end of class, many students still defy the policy. Others play the whole session using games, watch TikTok videos, or even chat. Much more astonishing is the way these games have transcended the entertainment sphere. They now dictate the terms for social cliques, ignite passion for authentic football, and even entice girl students, increasingly part of the gaming fraternity.

But with rising fixation on DLS and PES, there are bound consequences. These games, though as engrossing as they are amusing, are gradually siphoning students' focus in school. Hrs and hrs of being stuck to their screens, gaming at odd hours late at night or mousing around in class. This constant distraction is taking its price in their work; grades are plummeting, and attendance at school events is in danger of declining. Others will be present in body, but somewhere else in mind too tired or too busy to learn the material being covered. Rather than spending their study time reading or studying for tests, they are more concerned with competitive play or scrolling through game content mindlessly. It becomes a study habit over time, with gaming coming ahead of reading in the backseat. What once was a relaxation activity has turned into a silent scholarly threat.

PES and DLS are now not just games anymore; they have turned into an avenue for positive community building among students. All the players created WhatsApp groups that allow them to schedule matches, plan strategy, and even rate one another. These web platforms have become living social communities wherein students bond over the shared interest for gaming.

Besides, websites such as Twitter have enabled massive gaming communities, bringing universities together. From these communities, the gamers do not only achieve the thrill of healthy competition but also the thrill of belonging, promoting new connections and the establishment of useful networks among the student population.

These virtual universes are immersive and interactive, making friends among players and a sense of belonging; they also fortify the grip of addiction. What began as a pastime has since turned into part of the daily lifestyle of the majority of students, as the guarantee of social validation and the never-ending stream of information make the games more than a hobby, but occasionally hard to get along without some degree of self-control. Lastly, although PES and DLS are fun, they soon become distracting in the life of a student. Students need to learn the art of time management, establishing tough boundaries between their gaming enthusiasm and academics. The universities can also assist the students in keeping these distractions in check by providing them with workshops on digital wellness and time management. Gaming can be such a great and sociable experience, but never at the expense of academic success.