by Game-based learning tools convert traditional study time into an adventurous knowledge quest. These games use catchy soundtracks and digital rewards to keep students engaged in their studies and motivated to pursue greater expertise in a subject.
Adding elements like points, achievements, leaderboards to educational games drives student motivation and improves the teaching-learning process [22]. However, not all game-based learning tools are created equal.
1. Enhanced Engagement
The use of a game-based learning strategy can help improve learner engagement. It can also foster creativity and promote a spirit of experimentation among learners, according to a recent study by the journal International Serious Games.
In addition, a lot of digital games have student monitoring tools that allow teachers to monitor their students’ performance and make changes to their lessons in real-time. This allows instructors to better adapt to the needs of their students, thereby increasing the overall effectiveness of their instruction.
Another benefit of game-based learning is that it can provide a kinesthetic, visual, auditory and tactile experience for students. This type of learning helps students develop a well-rounded set of skills, which will be useful later in life when they enter the workforce.
Digital games can be designed with personalized journeys and customized characters that motivate learners. Similarly, popular video streaming services have stories that encourage their subscribers to return week after week. Centrical enables educators to create this kind of immersive learning experience through its built-in authoring tool, which offers customizable achievements that recognize, celebrate and motivate learners.
2. Enhanced Motivation
As educators seek ways to immerse students in academic learning experiences, they have discovered that academic gaming can be an effective tool for student engagement. Game-based learning is an exciting and innovative educational method that can be used in a variety of classroom settings. However, many teachers may still be unsure of how to incorporate academic gaming into their curriculum.
Educators can use games to motivate students to learn by providing them with an environment that is engaging, challenging, and fun. Games can introduce goals, interaction, feedback, problem solving, competition, and narrative to increase student motivation and learning.
A gamification software solution such as Raptivity can be used to create interactive online education games that can meet the needs of different learners. For example, a custom game can be used to help students learn about medieval European society by immersing them in an immersive historical simulation. The tool also offers features to encourage collaboration, which can be useful for promoting teamwork among learners. The software can also be used to encourage sales teams to improve their performance through contests, leaderboards, and real-time recognition.
3. Enhanced Learning
Game-based learning allows learners to be active rather than passive. Unlike textbooks, which contain all the information related to a topic and are often outdated by the time they reach classrooms, games can be updated and adapted to the students’ skills levels.
This enables educators to monitor students’ progress and make changes in real-time. Gamified learning also provides instant feedback which improves students’ problem-solving skills by allowing them to correct mistakes instantly.
Today’s generation is intimately familiar with playing entertaining video games. Educational gaming environments tap into this intrinsic motivation and can turn mundane study into an adventurous knowledge quest complete with catchy soundtracks and digital rewards.
In addition, games can help improve learning outcomes by encouraging higher-level thinking and promoting collaboration and communication between students. For example, some educational games allow students to divide into teams and compete with each other to enhance their teamwork skills. Some digital game-based learning programs, such as Minecraft for Education, even have curriculums that are pre-aligned to standards-based objectives and goals. Educators can also join the classroom workspace as non-players to provide guidance and give additional information on difficult topics or tasks.
4. Enhanced Collaboration
Game based learning tools like Gimkit can help students adopt and practice project management skills in a risk-free virtual environment. This makes the learning process exciting and engaging for both students and teachers. Teachers also mentioned that they recall GBL sessions as memorable and inspiring for them as learners, and they feel that they are more capable after the learning experience is complete.
Classroom gamification, which often involves dividing students into teams, promotes collaboration and communication. This enhances critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and fosters a deeper understanding of the content. It is important to remember that games should not replace lecturing and textbook reading, but rather be integrated thoughtfully into classroom instruction.
Educators need to have the right pedagogical and technological competencies to successfully integrate game-based learning into their classroom. They should define the specific learning objectives that the game must achieve and ensure that they match with the curriculum before introducing it. Also, it is important to test out the games beforehand and scrutinize their content and usability. Some digital learning games include student monitoring tools, which can aid teachers in assessing students’ performance and updating the game content accordingly.
5. Enhanced Self-Assessment
Game based learning tools have the power to help students become independent learners. They also allow teachers to track student progress and performance. This helps them to assess their skills and knowledge and identify areas that need improvement.
Students can use game-based learning to build a stronger foundation for their academics by practicing skills like multiplication, reading comprehension, or writing. Unlike traditional textbooks, games are always updated to match the latest pedagogical theories and to meet the needs of different learners. Many games include student-monitoring tools that let instructors know when a student is struggling and make the necessary adjustments to support them.
It is important to note that the purpose of a particular game-based learning tool will determine how much time should be spent on it in the classroom. Whether educators want to use the tool to reinforce, enrich, or intervene, they must carefully plan their implementation strategy. Educators should also test out any education-oriented games they plan to use, to ensure that the content and gameplay match their educational goals. Quizizz, for instance, is a top game-based learning platform that enhances learning through interactive quizzes and supports student collaboration.
