Is Game Based Learning The Future Of Education?

There’s a never-ending argument about what a new generation needs and what techniques and resources, schools should give to meet those requirements. Discussions about modernising curriculum need to include solutions for keeping the students engaged and making sure they’re learning how to be critical, confident, and creative- these 3C’s are the most important factors required for game-based learning. Apart from the 3C’s, the students must be compatible and should have the abilities they’ll need for success in the work-a-day world of the future. With many school districts exploring the transition towards the digital curriculum, the number of solutions are also vast and availability to address these concerns have increased rapidly. One of these solutions is game-based learning. This approach to curriculum and teaching is particularly suited to take full advantage of the benefits of a digital curriculum.

What is Game-based learning?

Game-based learning is a technical and Al-based teaching method in which students explore revenant aspects of games in a learning environment created by teachers, and with the right kind of game-based learning, one can experience virtual reality that looks and feels familiar and relevant. Whenever a child hears the word game, it instantly catches their attention at the very first instance, and then it makes the job of a parent or a teacher much easier as it helps make the child learn through an engaging process.

Game-based learning vs. Textbook learning

The educational system since the beginning has been slow to change. Although, on one hand, change is slow is a good thing, since it helps avoid the pitfalls of adopting education fads/ trends before they’re fully tested. Whereas, on the reverse side, it leads to a system that is sluggish to respond to the rapidly changing technological world. A big reason why change takes so long? Textbooks themselves. When a textbook is released, it contains all the current information, educational methods, and the theories as of when the textbook was sent to print, which often at least a year before it arrives in schools. Since textbooks are meant to be used for years, there’s a substantial delay before curriculum can be changed and information updated. Game-based learning is meant to be adaptive from the beginning. During the production process the game is tested and adjusted to be a more effective learning tool. As new information comes out in the field or educational approaches are adjusted, the game can be changed to suit them. After the game is released, it can be updated with new information, approaches and more. Games even have student-monitoring analysis tools which allows the teachers to monitor the students so that the game can be adjusted in future updates.

Changing the way children are educated

Game-based learning is about more than giving students educational games. It’s all about changing the students approach towards learning and vice-versa. Most importantly, the goal is for students to enjoy the process of learning itself. No matter what a student’s primary, secondary, or tertiary learning style is, a game can address them. Games can even combine multiple subjects into a single game so that they enjoy studying, creating a versatile learning tool. Learning games can also provide students a safe learning environment for failure. Games give them a second chance to try out new things and to keep trying. If they fail in the environment of the game, then they can simply try again and learn from their mistakes. Instead of education based on books, pen and paper, students learn through a more modern way i.e., through experimentation.