Craig Thiel 

Serious Games.
The positive and immersive power of video games. In my thesis, I explore how video games can have a positive impact on their users, outlining the benefits of a targeted experience, and video game's ability to explore a wide range of subjects that have the potential to entertain and educate. In furthering my research from my thesis, I have found that most parents today are well informed of the technological impact that all screen-based mediums have on themselves and their children. Organisations like CyberSafe Ireland have created a great system to educate and highlight the importance of screen time management. Meaning, parents put systems and plans into place to manage their child's time on screens. A scheduled time of the day where a phone or tablet is allowed to be used. I have found that parents are good at the management of screen usage per day but there is a lack of direction in how it's used. In the context of games, children are playing the same repetitive games that are popular, for their screen time. This is where parents take a step back and consider it managed, there is less of a negative impact because they are only playing for a small amount of time. I feel that if a parent wants to be more involved and get more out of their children's screen time a more focused approach would be hugely beneficial. Playing games that have a story, lessons to be learned or simply a bonding moment to play games together instead of a separate activity.