How gaming makes learning more fun

It is common knowledge that games have a heavy influence on children during their developmental years as it involves learning through technical and soft skills, along with motivational factors. The popularity of the gaming world has also led to major companies beginning to fund gaming concepts. This allows more startups to venture into this industry as startup funding is more accessible.

The attraction of games has moved on from an afternoon leisure activity to a feature that is being used within the classroom environment. Due to the challenges it presents, it has been identified as a component that involves the incorporation of technology and learning seamlessly, that ultimately leads to blended learning. 

Learning or having fun?

Each of us has had our moments where we have tried to avoid going to school, simply because we did not associate it with a place of fun. This is because as individuals we are at our optimum learning potential when we are engaged and enjoy the content.

This is where games have stepped in as they have shown to be more engaging whilst supplying the necessary information required throughout the session. 

A few ways that this blended learning has elevated the standard learning environment are;

Cognition

A sense of self-awareness of the student where they learn about the positives and attributes that they need to work on is recognised. As gaming improves the metacognition of the individual it increases the ability to reflect on one's thoughts. In turn, a student's academic skills show significant development.

Increased digital literacy

Blended learning incorporates a digitalisation with learning materials and technology thereby improving both digital and computer literacy. This means that students can adapt and possess skills that involve creativity, analytical abilities, communication skills, accountability, team-working, and ethical aspects.

To the extent that if the student were to arrive at a roadblock, they are now capable of navigating through it without emotional duress.

Longer attention span

Since games require a certain level of focus and awareness the memory and overall attention span are improved. Which builds on their learning patterns in terms of retaining information.

Skill learning

As generations keep growing a certain level of skills are expected to belong to a fully functional society. Aspects such as social, psychological, physical, and soft skills are needed to socialise appropriately. 

Since its essential for development, the environment that gaming creates allows growth in these areas by elevating interpersonal communication and interaction, along with fine-tuning spatial and motor skills. Further, self-esteem and leadership skills are also catered to.

Engagement

Gaming presents an alternate manner of distributing knowledge and acts as a stimulant to encourage learning in groups as well as positive competition in working towards common goals. 

This allows the learner to have fun but also retain what is important as the key to learning is to expand learning potential outside the walls of a classroom. Games further achieve this, especially through the story format that makes the situation relatable to the student.

Integrating gaming into learning

It is important to keep in mind that utilising gaming is a form of blended learning and is not a substitute for other learning strategies. Although it is deemed more fun and interactive certain measures need to be taken to evaluate its effectiveness and keep learning outcomes achievable. 

For instance;

• Differences in learning styles need to be considered. 
• Alternating periods of study based on the form of blended learning.
• Elevate empowerment and allow room for autonomy in skills.
• Monitoring permits quick feedback and analytics to both teachers and parents.

Potential benefits in the future

Since gaming in education is still considered relatively new, certain components of it can help elevate aspects that traditional learning may have lacked. 

Such as;

• Games can branch out into permitting students to stay in STEM-related subjects, since there may have been difficulties in involving the curriculum in a fun manner.
• Blended learning provides room for experiential learning, due to the overall development of well-being and not just an academic goal.
• Students can learn from failure with a renewed thought process that is both positive and productive.
• Gaming concepts allow alternate perspectives on approaching complex knowledge making it more interactive and fun.

Bridging the generational learning divide

Due to the games being less of a form of passive consumption and are more interactive it encourages learning to be done in countless manners. They can have alternate perspectives and approaches to situations that would not have been previously considered. 

The progress that gaming in education has made is impressive and it is only going to continue to improve especially with more data coming in for analysis and assessment. In turn, the opportunities are endless and the knowledge imparted is priceless.