Gamification of Learning

We all know… kids love technology. A recent study reported that 97% of kids play computers and video games.

They definitely like to play games on it but they also like to learn on it.

Not one teacher has ever told me that their students don’t love their tech time. Why is it so appealing?

Digital education games can be more engaging and interactive than traditional methods of learning like lectures or worksheets.

Kids are more interested when they are involved and can physically become part of their learning. The action of moving characters, fill in the blank, or even click and drag allows the child to interact with their answer.

Digital education games are quite often very appealing by sight and sound. This is intentional to help maintain interest in the topic and it encourages prolonged attention to learning.

Fun learning means better rates of retention.

This is because of the sheer amount of practice they get when learning while playing a game. Many learning games encourage repetitive concept teaching. The more they play, the more they practice and thus, the more skills and topics they can master.

Digital learning leaves no child behind.

It helps educators to ensure that every student is being engaged and challenged and it allows teachers a bit of time to focus where they might be most needed in the classroom.

Another study reported that 97% of teachers in K-5 use online educational games in their classrooms, and a whopping 70% say they notice increased engagement from their students!

Digital education games are not just video games. Many of them are well thought out platforms with clear educational goals and objectives for the kids that play them.

Incorporating these games into regular classroom teaching is not only beneficial to the students, but to the teacher as well.

They should be viewed as another tool in a teacher’s toolkit that can be called upon to enrich the students’ overall learning environment.

Digital educational games have a solid place in today’s classrooms and they are not going away anytime soon.

The future is becoming more and more tech each and every school year. My advice… embrace it!