Gamification has been used in environments all over the world and we see it in education, work, and even for personal development (*cough* *cough* Duolingo).
Particularly, gamification in education is something of heightened interest in today’s world. And we’re in full support! The world of technology is always advancing, so why not use it to the advantage of education?
In this article, we explore what gamification in education means and how it benefits students all over the globe.
What is Education Gamification?
Gamification, a relatively new term, refers to the application of game design principles and mechanics in non-game contexts to enhance engagement, motivation, and participation. So, gamification in education is exactly what it sounds like—games and education!
In traditional classrooms, it can be hard to hold students’ attention using typical teaching methods. Teachers often have to switch topics every 10-20 minutes to keep students focused, which can be tiring. It’s not anyone’s fault though. Kids are known to have limited attention spans and be easily distracted.
This is why gamification is becoming increasingly popular in education. It allows educators to creatively combine game design elements with educational concepts to keep students engaged and facilitate learning across various subjects. There are even challenge-based gamification and gamified e-learning systems that make learning more exciting and enjoyable for kids.
Benefits of Gamification in Education
Gamification in education offers a variety of benefits. Let’s take a deeper look at them below.
1. High Engagement
It’s no secret that almost everyone loves video games, even adults!
Gamification in education causes students to be highly engaged. By immersing learners in game-like experiences, an interactive and enjoyable learning environment is created. This also promotes sustained focus, motivation, and a deeper level of involvement with the educational content.
2. Intuitive for Students
It’s impressive how quickly young kids adapt to new technology and grasp game principles in educational settings. Give a toddler a tablet, and they’ll learn how to use it in no time, effortlessly changing apps, typing passwords, and adjusting the volume. Likewise, students will find it easy to get used to educational gamification after a few tries, quickly understanding how the software works and starting to learn from there.
3. Easy for Educators
At College Raptor, we greatly appreciate those who teach because we know that it’s hard work. The good news is, gamified classroom exercises can allow you to supervise an entire class while addressing their questions without disrupting everyone’s learning.
4. Improved Retention
Comprehension is a huge part of education. If a student is sitting in a classroom for an hour but not retaining any of the concepts, there’s definitely a problem. When lessons are gamified, students can retain the information more easily, leading to higher test scores. One math teacher saw his classroom’s test scores increase by 34% in just four months using gamification elements in his classroom.
Disadvantages of Gamification in Education
There are also some disadvantages to gamification in education. Take a look and decide for yourself if they give enough reason to write off this learning method.
1. Accessibility
In a perfect world, every student would have access to tablets, the internet, and the technology used in educational gamification. However, accessibility is a major problem we face with the gamification model. Depending on the school your child attends, there may not be enough funding to provide each student with a tablet or computer for learning. Some schools may offer parents the option to pay for it, but not everyone can afford that.
2. Minimal Interaction and Collaboration
In a gamified learning environment, the constant interaction and collaboration among students are reduced. Without a specific time allocated in the curriculum for whole-class discussions, it can be difficult for students to share and bounce ideas off each other.
3. Different Learning Styles
While some students learn and remember information better in a gamified group, others may prefer (and perform better with) non-gamified versions of concepts.
4. Screen Time
Excessive screen time is a daily challenge faced by individuals using tablets, computers, or phones. In the context of educational gamification, students’ screen time is further amplified, potentially resulting in headaches, tired eyes, and other discomforts. Prolonged engagement with technology can have long-term consequences on students’ attention spans and hinder their social development.
Final Thoughts
At College Raptor, we know that every student is unique with different abilities, access, and educational needs. Gamification in education helps more students have more access to education.
Still in some places around the world, getting an education is not a given. Thankfully, there are groups confronting this issue with solutions.
Organizations, like the Teach the World Foundation, are changing educational environments in some of the most undeveloped countries by fighting illiteracy with game-based learning and gaming elements. You can read all about their mission here and learn how you can get involved to support children all over the world to receive the education they deserve.
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