When we talk about the concept of gamification in education, we refer to the use of games in the field of education with the aim of promoting the learning of concepts and skills.
The main objective is to be an especially motivating and effective source of learning for students. In this way, a greater commitment is achieved on the part of the students in their learning and that is why the most innovative schools are beginning to use this type of educational resource in the classroom.
The application of this type of methodologies must be understood by teachers, who carry out the work of accompanying students throughout the educational process. The benefits of incorporating gamification in the classroom are determined by this good understanding on the part of the teachers and their teaching to the students.
The benefits of gamification in the classroom
1. Gamification increases motivation for learning
Children love to play and therefore any activity that they find fun increases their motivation. In reality, the motivation is not direct to learning, but what is clear is that these tools increase their predisposition to learn and do not generate rejection as the concept of traditional learning might suppose.
2. The difficulty is increasing
Each game is designed with a series of challenges and objectives that the students must achieve. The essence of gamification can be similar to that of a video game, as the player passes the levels, the game becomes more difficult.
This can be, for example, the assimilation of more abstract concepts or problems that are more difficult to solve. What is certain is that the difficulty level has no limits and can be used in all educational stages from Early Childhood Education to Secondary Education.
3. It makes subjects more fun
The concept of a traditional classroom with books and notebooks can be a little stimulating for students.
On many occasions, they do not find meaning in the concepts that are taught to them in school, and that makes them feel unmotivated or that the subjects are boring. Gamification can be applied in all subjects, from mathematics to social studies to music, and through it they can understand abstract concepts in a more practical way.
4. Promotes the acquisition of knowledge
The acquisition of knowledge is directly related to the interest and understanding that students have of the concepts.
There are complex concepts that students are not able to understand and, therefore, when studying, they are unable to assimilate.
Through gamification, both simple and complex concepts can be assimilated and it is easier for children to understand and memorize them.
5. Increases attention and concentration
Directly related to motivation we find attention and concentration. This process is like a chain: if the boys and girls are motivated, feel that they are capable of understanding the concepts, it is a challenge and they also like it, they themselves will put all their attention and concentration on continuing with it, putting all their efforts and resources in the game, favoring their own learning.
6. Improves academic performance
This aspect is the most logical and is derived from all the previous benefits. The assimilation of concepts and the fact of understanding them allows students to obtain much better grades on achievement tests compared to a learning style based on memorization
7. Stimulates social relationships
Most of the gamification tools require that they be used in a group. In this way, the students have to learn to communicate and work together to achieve the objective.
This type of game encourages each student to acquire a role within it, but also to see their classmates as equals.
8. Encourages the use of new technologies
Gamification can be carried out with or without new technologies, but there are great technological tools such as educational robotics or online coding classes for kids and the development of video games that make students begin to use new technology and integrate them into their way of learning and to live.
9. It favors the good use of video games
One of the most interesting gamification tools is video games and the use of them for educational purposes makes children understand that they are not a simple leisure tool, but that each video game has an end and that they can also do a moderate and responsible use of them.
10. Improve the use of logic and strategy for problem solving
The fundamental feature of any educational game lies in the use of logic. Challenges arise and students must think to solve them.
It can be a trivia, a math puzzle or a strategy that requires knowledge of physics, but the common characteristic is that they all need to use logical thinking and learning by deduction and trial and error.
There are many benefits of gamification and What is clear is that this tool is beginning to be very useful in the educational field for children to develop different technological skills or social and behavioral skills .
Author Bio
Vikram Rana is Marketing Manager at Go4Prep and has served as the Head of Conversion Marketing at Planet Web Solution. He’s an expert in inbound marketing and lead generation.