Parents are frequently seen scolding their kids for spending too much time playing games and not dedicating enough time to academics and other schoolwork. It is true that time management is crucial. Being said that,gaming should be encouraged in children just as much as academics.
Video games are one of the most popular methods to relax and have fun.As one of the world’s fastest-growing industries,it’s easy to focus entirely on the entertainment value of games. But there’s a lot more to gaming these days than just having fun.
Introduction To Game-Based Learning
Game-based learning is the use of gaming with educational goals that would support the learning and growth process of children. There are many games which are solely based on educational purposes,called Educational games.
Games have been used as a learning tool for decades. Chess was used to teach strategic thinking among kids,and the game of Kreigsspiel was developed as early as 1912 to educate Prussian commanders about tactics and strategy. Aside from the military, the concept of learning through play inspired the creation of Kindergarten schools in the mid-1800s.
The basic idea behind game-based learning is that it teaches via repetition,failure, and achievement of goals.This is also the foundation on which video games are developed. The player begins slowly and gradually improves their skills until they are capable of navigating through the most tough levels of the game with ease.Similar idea is often used in game-based learning and is then applied to teaching a curriculum.
Students work towards a goal,choose their actions, and experience the consequences of their actions. They actively learn and practice the correct way of doing things. As a result, active learning takes place instead of passive learning.
Flight simulator games are a classic example of the efficacy of game-based learning. During their training, pilots frequently utilise flight simulators.They are given highly specific goals and are required to practice until they are able to achieve the goals.The final outcome is far more effective than just listening to lectures and theory.
Game-Based Learning V/S Textbooks
The educational system has always been slow in evolving.On one hand, gradual change is a positive thing since it helps avoid the problems of accepting education trends before they’ve been carefully examined, on the other hand, it results in a system that is slow in adapting to a fast changing technological world.The only way of boosting that response rate is to significantly change the systematic approach to education.
One of the main reasons why change takes so long? The textbooks themselves. When a textbook is published, it contains all of the most recent knowledge, educational methods, and ideas at the time the textbook was sent to print. Because textbooks are designed to be used for years, there is a substantial delay before curriculum can be modified and textbooks can be updated.
Game-based learning is designed to be adaptable from the very beginning. The game is evaluated and modified during the manufacturing process itself to make it a more effective learning tool. As any new information comes out in the educational field or there is any new approach,the game can be modified to suit them. Even after the game is released, it may be updated with new content, strategies, and other features.
This is why, along with traditional text-book based learning, there should be integration of games to make the process of learning and education more effective.
Basic Benefits of Game-Based Learning
1. Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
The majority of games need kids to think fast.They need to use logic to think several steps ahead in order to overcome challenges and conquer various levels. This is amazing because it will benefit kids later in life as they improve their reasoning, accuracy,and ability to think outside the box.
2. Computer and Simulation Fluency
This skill is particularly essential since we live in a technologically dominated society. Playing games on the internet gives kids the opportunity to become acquainted with how a computer works, and as a result, it becomes second nature to them. There are websites, such as Cartoon Network Games, that offer enjoyable and interesting games to young children while simultaneously teaching them how to use the mouse and keyboard, web browsing and general internet navigation efficiently.
3. Development of Hand-Eye Coordination
Games that require kids to use a gamepad or a keyboard and mouse to play can contribute to the development of hand-eye coordination. This not only familiarises kids with how computers operate, but it also helps in the hand-eye coordination since kids must concentrate at the events which are happening on the screen while using their hands to control the actions, at the same time.
4. Skill Development
A lot of games have certain aspects that help kids with the development of specific skills. Many mystery and adventure games, for example, have maps that children must read. This definitely improves their map reading and practical thinking skills. There are also games, such as football management games, that teach children about managing funds and overall project management.
5. Conceptual Learning and Improved Memory
Through Game Based Learning, children’s conceptual understanding and knowledge improve. This is due to the fact that children learn things more effectively when they engage in interactive gaming. This significantly encourages high-quality learning.Understanding concepts through visuals improves retention and sharpens the mind of children. Visual learning reduces learning time, increases retrieval time of information, and allows students to grasp concepts more quickly.
Future of Game-Based Learning
The transition from traditional to online learning is becoming more prevalent. Innovative and interactive methods to make learning enjoyable and informative are becoming more popular.According to a global survey, 81% of students were more productive if their learning was based more on games. If we go by the current trends in game-based learning, one out of every five instructors uses games as part of their educational curriculum on a daily basis.
With an anticipated growth rate of 27.1% in the adoption of game-based learning between the year 2020–2025, game-based learning may eventually become a part of every classroom and household!
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