Online Game-Based Learning in EdTech: A Smart Investment for Institutions
The digital era of innovation in education is upon us, and educators, along with learners, are taking into account the potential benefits of these technological advancements. Classrooms and course materials are constantly evolving, with technology playing a primary role in driving engagement and motivation among students.
Imagine a hypothetical educational scenario depicted through gamified learning solutions. Isn’t that revolutionary?
Well, that’s what the edtech sector has brought to the education sector: more opportunities to explore the learning potential of students.
You no longer have to depend upon traditional teaching methods to deliver an enhanced mode of learning. Today, game-based learning in a classroom is a game-changer with the myriad ways it helps students learn and apply different concepts in various contexts across generations.
Do you want to make a smart investment in the future of education?
Let’s dig deeper and answer questions like:
- What is online game-based learning?
- What is an example of game-based learning in education?
- What are the benefits of online game-based learning?
Table of Contents:
- Online Game-Based Learning in Education
- Examples of An Online Game-Based Learning Platform
- What are the Top 5 Benefits of Game-Based Learning in EdTech?
- Concluding Thoughts
Online Game-Based Learning in Education
Here is an interesting statistical finding: the game-based learning market size and revenue share are expected to exceed USD 52.8 billion by 2030. With such a booming presence, let us understand how this pedagogical approach can help students all over the world.
Game-based learning is an interactive and collaborative form of teaching that promotes learning and challenges students by using elements of a game in the learning environment.
The gamified learning solutions can be an application specifically designed to simplify mathematical concepts. The learning solution can also be an actual game in which students explore and learn through the quests, levels, rewards, and so forth present within the game.
Game-based learning can take many forms and provide a mode of learning either as a team or at the individual level. Some games are fully immersive worlds where students can choose their paths through adventures with different challenges along the way.
Other games are more like puzzles or interactive tutorials that use different types of media (text, images, video) to teach concepts engagingly.
Examples of An Online Game-Based Learning Platform
Game-based learning can be used in a variety of educational environments, including K-12, higher education, and corporate training. This is one of the vital reasons why the global K12 game-based learning market is growing at an accelerated rate, with a CAGR of 20% in the forecast period of 2021-2025.
Let’s see why game-based learning software is such a raging success. There are so many examples of games that can be employed and successfully implemented by educators:
1. Video Games
There are multiple reasons why video games are so popular among children. There are approximately 3.09 billion video gamers globally.
Now, that’s massive in terms of an avenue for online game-based learning and a world of opportunities for the community of educators. Depending upon the interest levels of the students, you can choose between role-playing games, action games, simulations, adventures, and so forth.
A common thread that exists in such environments is the ability to develop critical thinking skills and decision-making among students. All you need to do is align your curriculum to the game environment and teach the courses or subjects through the game.
2. Puzzle Games
A brilliant example of such a game is Sudoku, where you keep the brain stimulated and use your logic to complete the puzzle as soon as possible.
Solving puzzles helps students develop a deeper understanding of different scenarios with an emphasis on spatial and cognitive methods used for recognizing patterns and aligning them for a successful outcome.
Researchers have established the connection between puzzle-based learning approaches and outcomes like problem-solving, cognitive thinking, and decision-making.
Also Read: What are the 4 C’s of Game-Based Learning?
3. Board Games
The most popular board games include Ludo, Scrabble, Monopoly/Business, Chess, and so forth. Each of them has the unique quality of keeping children highly engaged to keep up with the competitive streak.
Children can learn important educational skills like vocabulary, problem-solving, sharpness of acumen, intellectual application, and so forth. Online game-based learning can take many forms.
It could be as simple as playing a game that helps students practice math skills, like Monopoly, or adding a game component to an existing lesson plan to make it interesting and enriching. If you’re teaching about ancient civilizations, for instance, you could design a game in which players must go back in time to gather all the information required to solve a mystery.
What are the Top 5 Benefits of Game-Based Learning in EdTech?
Online game-based learning can take many forms. It could be as simple as playing a game that helps students practice math skills or adding a game component to an existing lesson plan.
For example, if you’re teaching about ancient civilizations, you might create a virtual game using AR/VR techniques and simulations. Students have to travel back in time and find all the clues they need to solve a mystery.
This could include tasks like finding fossils in Africa, researching ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, and reading historical documents written by historians who were alive during that period.
The benefits are:
1. Engagement
When students have a goal to work towards and experience success, they are more likely to be engaged. About 67% of students support the fact that gamified learning solutions are more engaging and motivating than traditional teaching methods.
Game-based learning provides this kind of drive and engagement by allowing students to progress through their courses at their own pace while still facing challenges.
2. Motivation
Students find motivation in achieving milestones, not just receiving grades. Game-based learning offers students the opportunity to earn badges and other rewards for completing tasks- something that many conventional course formats lack.
These rewards serve as motivation for students because they are earning something instead of simply going through the material without any evidence of mastery.
3. In-Depth Comprehension
When students engage in activities, they have the opportunity to grasp concepts because these games require them to utilize their logic and problem-solving skills. This is particularly beneficial for subjects like math and science, where complex ideas are involved.
4. Tailored Experiences
Through the utilization of game-based learning in education, instructors can craft experiences that cater to each student’s unique needs. About 74% of teachers employ game-based learning tools and approaches in their classrooms.
Additionally, they can easily adjust the difficulty levels of these games based on their student’s skill sets and interests. This level of customization allows instructors to tailor their courses specifically for each student, surpassing what traditional face-to-face courses can offer.
5. Retention
Games offer both short-term and long-term benefits. Studies have shown that students who participate in online games retain more information than those who do not participate at all.
Also Read: Is Game-Based Learning the Future of Education?
Concluding Thoughts
Game-based learning is a tool with applications for young learners. By integrating this technology into their coursework, students can acquire skills and concepts for success in their classes.
Furthermore, game-based learning offers easy-to-digest and rapidly understood curricula that capture students’ attention. Educational institutions that incorporate technology are investing in their student’s prospects.
At Hurix Digital, we recognize that online game-based learning holds appeal for both users and newcomers, whether it’s applied in a classroom setting as an extracurricular activity or as an avenue to acquire new skills.
With the multitude of benefits and learning opportunities, these games provide learning outcomes that continue to evolve and improve. As a result of this progress, we expect more institutions to embrace GBL and gamification technology in education in the coming years.
