Are Educational Games an Effective use of Classroom Learning? One parent’s view of educational games used to assist children with learning.
Recently I was requested to write a blurb on game based learning. So, instead of keeping this article to my self, I thought I would publish it and get your response.
Interestingly enough, after I wrote this article, I read an article in a magazine I subscribe to which covered the role game based advertising plays in todays media mix and the way they are being used to engage prospects who visit various websites. The survey pointed out a huge increase in engagement by site visitors and even an up tic in sales, tied to game playing. So is it any wonder game based learning could also be used to engage students?
As a father of three boys I’m very aware the draw video games have on my sons. They fight over which game to play and which platform to play it on. They enjoy the challenge of killing, building and exploring. What I’ve noticed is that all these games are designed to offer stepped up challenges and quick rewards based on achievements. The games are designed by fellow gamers who understand the challenge to reward, learning to mastery ratio. They are designed around intuitive learning.
It’s no wonder then this type of thinking would be introduced into children’s learning games. Children’s learning games incorporate the same principles found in the games kids and adults play. In learning games, there is an achievement component not found in the normal class setting, the rewards come much quicker.
My youngest son is currently using a couple online learning based games to brush up on his Math and English (both recommended by his teacher). He enjoys learning without thinking he is learning. The built in challenges and immediate gratification keep his interest levels high.
Hands on learning
In our everyday life many of us learn by doing not hearing. For example, when you buy a new piece of book keeping software you learn just enough to begin to balance your check book then go on to learn more ways to use it.
If you want to learn how to plumb, you watch and you do, until you can plumb a house. Hands on learning, is as old as human kind. Game based learning takes advantage of this style of learning just supercharging it with intuitive learning and rewards.
Rewards based learning
The challenge in learning something new without having an immediate reward attached to it, can lead to getting board, losing interest or getting frustrated and stopping altogether. This is one likely reason so many kids drop out of school, not the lack of ability.
You wouldn’t work for your boss if you didn’t get the reward of a paycheck so why would it be any different for students?
More teacher per student time
A big plus in game based learning models is that teachers are freed up to walk around the class room and offer one to one instruction tailored to each student’s need. In the gaming scenario the teacher is seen as an “expert” not the authoritarian teacher figure.
We live in a connected world
As a nation we’ve shifted away from an industrialized culture and now live in the connected age. Every kid alive today will be using a computer and the associated software to do their jobs. From machinist’s who program computerized manufacturing machines to the engineers and nurses and auto technicians.
When people want to know something they use online based tools. Our brains are being rewired by the thousands of hours we engage in the digital world. Thus using the platform we work and play in to learn is just a natural evolution.
Old World verses New World
The only reason a school system wouldn’t wish to try such an approach has more to do with policy making and less to do with what’s best for the kids. The one size fits all model of the past 100 years isn’t working. The drop out rate is far too high and the major reason I believe is the rigid one size fits all system of learning, which keeps the status quo in place and those who benefit from it.
Those whose careers are tied to this antiquated system will push hard against the introduction of games based learning systems within the classroom. Yet if America wishes to be the number one provider of public education, we better quit with the self serving antiquated systems and open our arms to whatever works to engage and educate our children including Educational Games used in Classrooms.
Educational games can be a wonderful way to educate students whose learning styles need more hands on engagement and immediate rewards tied to it. No it’s not the only way but just one more way to engage and capture the hearts and minds of today’s students.