Start playing, start learning
Gaming, the nemesis of parents all over the world, driven insane by the continual sight of their children investing hours and hours behind their laptops and game-consoles. To them videogames are the enemy, consuming time which could have been spend doing homework and studying. But somehow the child sees something of value, something engaging enough to fill almost every second of spare time. Some innovative educators think they know the answer: reduced stress, increased concentration, enhanced learning, faster development of the skills that are needed in today's high-tech society and students craving for more. Their solution: Educational Gaming.
“Gamification, by Talenthq”
Educational Gaming has a broad variety of benefits and should be integrated into the national school system of the Netherlands. Gamification of the curriculums will make school more enjoyable, more effective and will increase the level of which the students are involved with their syllabus.
Increasing skill without the kill
There is a tremendous amount of possibilities in which Educational Gaming can provide practice and processing of results. Educational Gaming provides the capability to access an environment in which certain situations can be created. Some professions require skills which need to be trained to excellence before they can be practiced in real life. They need to be practiced artificially because the consequences can be dangerous.
An example of this concept which is already being used is the training of airline pilots. Before they are allowed and capable of landing an airplane, pilots learn and practice their skills by using a flight simulator. By using the simulation, the pilot can practice his proceedings without bringing himself or anyone else in danger. It is shown that the results of pilots started to improve with the use of the simulation.This is one of the first applied uses of Educational gaming and is only used to train employees of companies which sell a luxury service.
One of the biggest potentials of Educational Gaming lies in scientific healthcare. Being able to practice surgical procedures which are extremely rare or complicated can save thousands of lives each year. Medical students can prepare themselves and practice limitless without ever endangering a patient. Not only can they apply their abilities, they can archive their results, compare them with fellow students and get specific insight on methods they struggle with. The processing of results is one of the biggest perks of Educational Gaming.
“Gamification, by Elearningindustry”
A personal aim in every game
Studies have shown that gamification makes the student more involved with the curriculum and increases the joy they experience while learning. Educational Gaming creates an environment where students are able to use their creativity and find answers in their own way. By archiving study results, teachers are able to give precise feedback and create small competitive projects to empower the students study willingness.
Study shows that by using the so called ‘leveling system’, students are stimulated to improve their skills and are obligated to extend their creativity. In order to move to higher levels, games require individuals to use prior knowledge, transfer new information into new situations, apply information in correct contexts, and learn from immediate feedback. Educational Gaming gives students an instant reward for their work and challenges them to apply their newly learned skills.
In the short time Educational Gaming is tested and applied there are certain methods students enjoy the most. The first method is the previously described competitive learning. Students play an educational game and are placed in a leaderboard where they are ranked by the amount of right choices they make. This method enhances the drive to succeed and gives a clear display on how everyone is doing. The second liked method is called Alternate Reality Gaming. In this method elements of gaming are used to create an interactive drama which can be played out in online and in real-world spaces. Over several days or weeks players (students) gather online and are challenged to solve mysteries or problems that would be impossible to solve alone. Students need to interact with each other to succeed and learn to combine forces.
Besides the benefits of Educational Gaming there is a downside to the concept. As large educational institutes might be able to integrate gamification into their syllabus at ease, videogames are not necessarily the most cost-effective option for schools with tight budgets and crowded classrooms. They require computers, tablets or other specialized technology as well as dedicated Internet servers and other communications systems. There may also be a need for additional infrastructure, personnel and teacher training. A full, game-infused curriculum could cost millions of dollars and require ongoing support. The only way this problem could be resolved is for the government to see the value of Educational Gaming and increase the amount of grants given to schools. It is important gamification is supported by the government not only for the improved methods of learning but to invest in a generation of students who understand digital literacy. Understanding how systems work will become increasingly important in a world where many of today’s students will pursue jobs that do not currently exist, they will almost certainly have jobs that require some level of mastery of digital media and technology,” says co-founder of E-line Media Gershenfeld.
