'Engaging children through game-based learning can improve manual dexterity, reduce fear'

With rapidly expanding online learning landscape, promoting importance of gamification in education is more engaging and appealing for children, especially with schools that continue to remain closed with ongoing pandemic. Educational institutions are increasingly adopting pedagogy that allows children to be stress-free. re are many ways to lever game-based learning to decrease academic pressure on children and ensure that y learn with an understanding. Additionally, by playing educational games, children can learn STEM concepts relatively easily while having a lot of fun.

Pranav Kothari, Chief Executive Officer, Educational Initiatives in a conversation with Republic World has talked about benefits of game-based learning. 

What is game-based learning and how does it work?

use of gaming with educational goals to support children's learning and growth is kwn as game-based learning.  Children remember stories much better than instruction and games is one such vehicle. Games promote behaviour of challenge which can encour children to spend extra time. Analytical thinking and logical reasoning are aided by game-based learning. It also improves problem-solving and collaborative thinking skills in children. Game-based Learning or GBL is an ancient approach to help children learn and improve ir kwledge in different areas of life.

Games have ability to create immersive experiences that help user reach ”flow” state to achieve expertise in a topic at a faster pace. Game-based learning experiences lead to higher engment and better learning outcomes. Game-Based Learning (GBL) has been instrumental in creating active learning experiences and enhance learning outcomes by improving retention of kwledge.

Additionally, games such as Sudoku, Lego Tower, and Scrabble help children develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and creativity, all of which help children perform better in various aspects of ir lives.

Why is game-based learning important? 

Combining games and education promotes "Learning by Doing." According to research, our attention span has decreased in last 20 years from 12 seconds (in 2000) to 8 seconds in 2020 and that is posing challenges when it comes to learning with understanding. To learn something new it is important that user engs well with content.

Retaining what one has learnt is important in order to translate kwledge into action and for that, practice is quintessential. Games are a good mask for worksheets - it helps to build speed & proficiency - which is important to strengn conceptual understanding that a child has developed. 

Essentially a child could have understood how to add or multiply - but unless child does many similar problems, re is a chance y may forget. Giving worksheets may cause a child to feel drudgery but playing a game would allow 'learning' to solidify in a fun environment.

How is game-based learning relevant in current virtual learning landscape amidst pandemic for children?

world is going through a tough time due to recent pandemic. With online learning becoming new rmal, it's becoming challenging to keep children engd while y take online classes. GBL is an option to increase interest and automy of learning. wadays, invative and interactive methods for increasing enjoyment and effectiveness of learning continue to gain popularity.

Edtech is designed to facilitate personalised and effective instruction. As online education becomes more prevalent, educators are increasingly incorporating game-based learning into classroom.

What are benefits of using game-based learning to enhance skills for children?

Game-based learning improves self-confidence, conceptual clarity, memory, analytical skills, life skills, etc. Games can help improve a child’s manual dexterity and reduce fear. Games can also teach children to become better problem solvers and boost ir self-confidence. Games have proven to help dyslexic children improve ir reading.

What is future of game-based learning? What are trends that can be expected in game-based learning with techlogical advancements?

A report,  Silent Epidemic: Perspectives of High School Dropouts, commissioned by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, found that 50% of 470 dropouts shared y could have succeeded with engaging classroom and course material. As education industry is becoming aware of benefits of gamifying learning processes, educators can certainly lever power of educational games to help new generation learn efficiently and create a world where every child can learn with understanding and fun.

We can expect to see more GBL programs replacing traditional way of teaching while teachers will still play an important role as facilitators of learning. For a better reach, game-based learning will be developed with mobile techlogy in mind, but it will also adapt to way people consume content on mobile devices. 

What are aspects that educators need to focus on when designing games for education?

 While designing educational games one must design keeping children in mind. 

A. Focus on goal of learning:

It is critical that learning game designers do t deviate from games' primary learning objective. It's very easy to get lost in details or swayed away by visual effects and or enjoyable aspects of game. best educational games are those in which creator strikes optimal balance between fun and primary learning objective.

B. Simplicity & mode of us: 

user navigation should be kept as simple and effective as possible. As adults, we frequently forget what it was like to be children and design according to our current understanding. re are some fundamental differences and similarities between children and adults that are beautifully described in Debra Levin's book "Design for children." se distinctions and similarities are critical when designing games for children and adults.

C. Tutorials and immediate feedback:

Designing effective educational games is an iterative process, and designers frequently make assumptions that are t readily apparent to end-user. To accelerate learning through educational games, it is critical that some pilots are conducted.

(Disclaimer: author of this article is Pranav Kothari, Chief Executive Officer, Educational Initiatives. Views expressed here are personal. Republic World does t take any responsibility for it.)