Gamification In Education

Why Should Games Be Incorporated In Everyday Classroom Learning Regime?

Games and academics have always been perceived to be opposing pursuits.  Students who enjoyed games were deemed to be poor in academics and vice-versa.

But technology has eradicated such biases. Today, educators are looking for new and inventive ways to engage students in the classroom. These teachers have harnessed technology to introduce advanced models of education founded on the concepts of gaming. Introducing gamification in the classroom not only makes learning more enjoyable and fun, but it is also more engaging for the students.

What Is Gamification in Education?

Most digital games that we play either online or on gaming apps offer a combination of points, badges, levels, and leaderboards. These keep the players motivated and ensure they keep returning for more. Some games also have secondary tasks and minor goals that do not add to the outcome of the game. These non-essential tasks help the players collect points and rewards for their accomplishments, thus keeping the player addicted to the game. 

Gamification in education incorporates elements of video games, into the teaching environment. It follows the theory students learn best when they are also having fun. The use of goals, targets, mission, and achievements keeps the learners engaged, motivated, and even addicted to the new learning process. 

What Is The Difference Between Gamification And Games-Based Learning?

In game-based learning, students make their own games or playing commercially-made video games. On the other hand, gamification is merely integrating game-based elements in classroom learning. 

What Does Science Say About Gamification In Education?

Research has proven that when we participate in activities that stimulate our bodies or minds, our body releases a hormone known as endorphin. Similarly playing online learning games that challenge learners or helps them earn rewards releases endorphins in the brain of the learner. 

Now, instead of finding learning boring or tiring, the endorphins make learning fun and exciting. It also helps the student retain more information, thus making the learning experience more powerful and memorable.

What Are The Elements Of Gamification In The Classroom?

Gamification in the classroom involves the use of many game-based elements such as point scoring, score tables, peer competition, teamwork,  completing series of tasks or activities to advance to the next level.

It also includes some or all of the below elements.

• A narrative to follow
• Player control in the game
• Social connect or Peer connection
• Scaffolded learning” with challenges that increase in intensity
• Daily missions or tasks
• Avatars
• Immediate feedback
• Progress indicators through points, badges leaderboards

This Brings Us To The Critical Question – Why Should Games Be Incorporated In The Everyday Classroom Learning Regime?

Gamification brings multiple benefits to the entire learning process. We have compiled the five most compelling benefits of gamification.

1. Gamification Makes Learning Fun, Engaging And Interactive

Very often learning is associated with hours of writing, reading and rote learning. With gamification, learning becomes a fun and interactive proves. The teachers assign the students with a variety of learning goals and objectives to achieve throughout the course. The task and mission create experiences that fully engage their learners. It holds their attention and motivates them to keep moving up a level. 

When learners feel optimistic about their process and know that they are going to be rewarded in some way, they stop becoming passive observers and turn into active participants who have fun while learning important classroom concepts.

2. Gamification Keeps The Students Motivated And Encouraged. 

Traditional learning focuses on just one big learning goal at the end of a chapter or at the end of a term. 

On the other hand, gamification allows the teachers to design rewards for every small learning milestone. These rewards in the form of badges, stickers, medals, or even points when the students reach certain checkpoints or levels encourage the students to work hard towards a particular milestone, gain mastery over it, and progress to the next goal. 

These shorter milestones help the learners to stay motivated.  

3. Gamification Gives Students Instant Feedback Which Facilitates Learning

One of the most significant benefits of online learning is that it allows for instant feedback, reflection, and self-correction. These are pivotal to the online learning process. Gamification through its tasks, games, and levels gives the students continuous assessment during the learning process. It helps the students in their understanding of the critical concepts.

Some online games are designed in a manner that offers a personalized breakdown of the player’s performance at the end of each level. It provides instant details about the student’s achievements, strengths, weaknesses, and compares it within the classroom.

4. Gamification Provides A Emotional Release For Students

When compared to traditional forms of learning, gamification is more invigorating to the senses. It links, intricately emotions of the learner to all the aspects of the game. For instance, solving a puzzle, winning a badge or gaining points in an adventure can fill the students with a sense of joy and accomplishment. Similarly, setbacks such as losing a life or failing in a mission come with emotions such as anger or misery. The students are more immersed in the game with a desire to improve. Thus allowing the students’ emotional participation and release, which is missing in traditional text-book models.

5. Improves Knowledge Absorption And Retention Of Information

The critical goal of learning is to instill knowledge within the learners. Even more importantly, the learners must develop a love and a thirst to access this knowledge. Tradition classroom techniques might seem tedious, but because gamification blends emotions and endorphins, it can improve knowledge absorption and boost knowledge retention for all the students. Additionally, learners tend to retain knowledge when they acquire the information in bite-sized chunks as in gamification when compared to the long learning process.

In conclusion,

Today’s technology-savvy students and their parents are aware that there are better options than endless lectures and stressful examinations. Many new age and high-tech schools are also realizing the benefits of new modalities like gamification and their role in preparing students for the real world.