Many parents often wonder how their kids share extensive tips on defeating a ‘Video Game Boss' in one go when they are rather slow learners at school. Well, the reason is quite simple. Game-based learning is challenging, exciting, motivating, nerve wrecking and fun.
So, the bottom-line: kids love games. But are you aware that most adults actually like to play games as well? Yes, they do. I am pretty sure that most of you would agree with me. Games are just as pivotal for adults as they are for kids. In fact, games help to inculcate problem-solving skills in them. And this can come in handy dealing with ‘varied’ work related situations.
In this post, we will discuss what is game-based learning, why it enjoys a global appeal, how educators should use this approach when developing eLearning strategy and much more.
What is game-based learning?
It is defined as lessons which are interactive, competitive and allow the learners to have ‘fun’ while gaining knowledge. In game-based learning, the subject matter is balanced with gameplay.
Industry veterans are of the opinion that this learning approach improves knowledge retention and offers many benefits when implemented in the right fashion. It has been observed that well-designed games allow students to interact with different learning scenarios. It is powerful and transferable to the real-world scenarios. With game-based learning, the grasping capabilities of the learners are at its peak.
What game-based learning means for teachers?
It allows the course designers or instructors to create ‘innovative’ lesson plans and assist them to motivate their students. Game-based learning has the potential to take learning to a whole new level.
It gives complete freedom to the course developers or Instructional Designers to create an exceptional representation of the lesson that is to be taught. Moreover, with the use of games, one can bring ‘life’ to a regular eLearning course. While the learners feel keen to grasp knowledge, this modern approach elevates them to a new level of the learning experience.
Why ‘game-based learning’ appeals to everyone?
The key components that make game-based learning enticing as an effective educational tool are -
1. Competition - The conventional learning methods (like classroom lecture) do not include the competitive elements of a game. Students/learners feel motivated to engage and complete a task/activity. The best part is that it doesn’t need to be against another learner/competitor and can be an attempt to achieve the highest score. This trend is visible in massively multiplayer online role-playing games where players compete and test their skills using a pre-defined set of strategies.
2. Engagement - There’s no denying that fun games are capable of improving the learning performance significantly. When students have fun while learning, the pressure dissipates to achieve the target which ensures better results.
3. Immediate Rewards - When students know that they will be rewarded, it helps them stay invested and focussed. This ensures a consistent learning process for the students.
4. Feedback - Real-time feedback allows the learners to understand their status and proceed accordingly.
Key things to remember when designing game-based eLearning content -
Planning to use game-based learning approach in your next training content? Not sure, how to go about it? No worries! Just keep a tab on these below-mentioned pointers and make it work for you.
- Interactivity and immersion are crucial - To truly benefit from game-based learning, students should be immersed. For instance, with an interactive scenario game, it is important that the learners should be able to relate to the characters and situation otherwise the motivation level will be low. Moreover, using interactivity the learners feel encouraged taking part and that don’t lose focus.
- Create challenging scenarios - To ensure maximum engagement, the difficulty level of eLearning content should follow a logical progression. To ensure that it isn’t too easy to complete or overly challenging, do a thorough research about your ‘learners’ - professional knowledge, educational background etc.
- Learning objectives matter - While fun and driving engagement is key, the end target should be about achieving targets so that the learners are able to enhance their skills. Offering your learners real value outside the realm of the virtual classroom should be the end objective of every training content. In fact, this approach should be applied in the eLearning authoring tools as well.
Strategies to make game-based learning successful
- Align learning outcomes with game types - We all are aware that there are varied kinds of games: boarding games, adventure games, puzzle games, etc. Take an in-depth analysis to find out which meets your requirements and the learning outcomes. For example, role-playing games appeal to sales reps the most.
- Turn learning and knowledge into the clue - When the gamer is able to progress in a game using his knowledge, he is expected to use it again. If the game is set in a corporate scenario, he realizes that the approach used in the game can be applied in a real-life setting as well. In simple e words, he will keep on referring to the gaming scenario to achieve success in the working environment.
- Use effective instructional strategies to design the game - Industry experts vouch for the use of graphics in place of text heavy content to demonstrate better and allow learners to self-asses their knowledge. One of the other strategies that also work and can be used are the use of self-explanation questions. Instead of using typical “yes, you’re right” or ‘No, this isn’t the right answer’, it is preferable to share an explanation for a better understanding. In other words, interactivity matters and shouldn’t be missed.
- Guide the gamer to achieve goals - In game-based learning, the learner should be fully aware of what he is supposed to do and what is the purpose of engaging in this activity. In case you fail to do so, your gamer will simply turn off the game and not likely to open it again. By explaining the goal of every scenario and what the reward he is expected to get can actually do wonders.
Examples of game-based learning
- Computer Games vs Simulations - While computer games are usually fantasy based, Simulations are also a variant of computer game that simulates something which is happening in real life.
For instance, a simulation will let a student dissect a body online but a computer game would teach the same thing but with a fantasy-based approach. In this situation, dissection is any day more realistic.
A research done by Traci Sitzmann, University of Colorado Denver, stated that computer-based simulations elicit better learner performance and knowledge retention as compared to non-simulation instruction. The meta-study claimed that simulation games deliver:
- 20% higher post-training self-efficacy
- 11% higher declarative knowledge
- 14% higher procedural knowledge
- 9% higher retention
- Single vs Multi-Player - In a single-player game, every learner plays as an individual. The multi-player games comprise other players, competitors or teammates. The single-player games are easier to play and coach because the student is against the computer/software.
- One-Time vs Persistent Games - In the world of one-time games, when a learner logs in, he/she starts over. In a persistent game, it is an ongoing process where the learner achieves over multiple playing sessions.
- Real-Life vs Electronic Gaming - In the recent times, electronic games have proven their mettle as fast and easy but physical classroom is the most effective place to use game-based learning.
Bright future ahead of digital game-based learning
Although many are debating if digital game-based learning will be able to strengthen its position and widen its horizon in the next ten years or so, but one can’t overlook the fact that presently it is thriving at a fast pace. According to Ambient Insight, the game-based global market stood at $1.5 billion in 2012 and may witness a compound annual growth rate of 8.3% by reaching $2.3 billion in 2017.
The takeaway
In simple words, game-based learning offers innumerable advantages when done properly. From enhancing learner engagement to offering real-time feedback, game-based learning allows students to put learning into practice, makes them master subjects in a fun way. So, teachers should definitely maximize the use of this learning methodology to maximize profit. One can also say that the way game based learning is progressing, the day isn’t far when eLearning will rely heavily on this approach for desired success.