Summary

Explore seven tips for integrating game-based activities with other teaching strategies to enhance engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes.

The days when learning only referred to reading long-form texts are gone. Now, teachers have started using interactive activities to engage students while learning.

This does not only mean field days or virtual tours but also games. Yes, game-based activities have become a part of modern learning. That is why the global game-based learning market is set to garner USD 29.7 billion by 2027. 

74% of teachers have started using digital game-based learning to enhance their lessons. Game-based learning (GBL) allows teachers to create tailored courses for a fun and engaging learning experience.

The objective behind game-based teaching is to integrate interactive elements to motivate learners. Want to know how you can use it in your teaching sessions? The article will highlight the tips for blending game-based activities with other teaching strategies.

Table of Contents:

What is Game-Based Learning & How is it Different from Gamification?

GBL and gamification seem similar on the surface but have intricate differences. 

Gamification in education involves integrating gaming elements into traditional learning, such as leaderboards, points, rewards, or badges. Conversely, game-based learning refers to learning activities designed with inherent game principles.

These characteristics merge with the learning activities. A suitable example would be economics students competing in a digital stock-trading competition.

However, both approaches promote sustained motivation and engagement while learning.

Also Read: Is Game-Based Learning the Future of Education?

Benefits of Game-Based Learning

Given the prevalent use of technology in day-to-day activities, using it to teach can be highly beneficial. Let’s see how:

1. Gen Z’s Familiarity with Technology

Gen Zers enjoy interacting through technology and are incredibly adept at using it, always looking for innovative ways to learn. That is why 59% use YouTube and 47% play interactive games to increase their skills.

Thus, using online game-based learning to make their education more engaging can be highly beneficial.

2. Simulating the Imagination

Game-based teaching equips students with tools like 3D models to deploy in real-time. This can help them better understand the topic, making the experience more real and enjoyable.

A digitally created world where learners can interact with elements can simulate their imagination. It can make a lasting impression, helping them associate the information with the experience and increasing knowledge retention. 

3. Improved Motivation

Students who experience a gamified learning approach have enjoyed the process. They reported that the approach reinforced their knowledge, helping them engage and communicate with fellow students.

Thus, using gaming technology in interactive learning can lead to better student motivation.

4. Better Knowledge Retention

Using interactive videos in K12 is also a good idea for an improved learning experience. Students only retain 10% to 20% of the knowledge they have read or heard after three days.

However, their knowledge retention increases significantly when videos and illustrations are involved. Thus, teachers can use such interactive elements to elevate learners’ knowledge retention.

5. Learning Practically

Game-based learning can boost your existing interactive learning strategies by adding teamwork. For example, teachers can hold an interactive session to explain the concept of projectile motion. A game can allow students to try different scenarios to understand trajectory, height gained, distance traveled, etc.

Turning the session into a competition using blending and segmenting activities will also motivate them to collaborate. Participatory activities can help students retain knowledge about complex concepts. Thus, using blended learning can help learners collaborate while retaining more knowledge.

Also Read: What are the 4 C’s of Game-Based Learning?

Top Tips for Integrating Game-Based Learning in Education

Gamification strategies can work wonders for learners and teachers alike. Let’s see how you can implement new strategies to leverage the power of gaming in teaching.

1. Imitate Popular Games

Did you know gaming is a regular part of 70% of students’ routines? You can use it to your advantage by using popular games in your course module.

Games such as Valorant, Minecraft, CS:GO, etc., are good starting points. While you can use Minecraft to teach them directly, you can replicate the elements from other games in your classes. 

Since most students will be familiar with or willing to try them, you can capitalize on their attentiveness.

2. Using VR Technology

Teaching a historical event or a physics concept can bore students without making it relevant or engaging. It is where virtual reality can significantly benefit learners by letting them interact with an environment simulating the laws of gravity or the city of Pompeii. 

Keep Rotating Games

There is a reason why games have a short popularity lifespan. Barring evergreen titles like COD and CS:GO, most games fail to maintain relevance.

The same will happen if you only introduce a handful of games and related activities. Try rotating between group games, whole-class games, and solo activities to keep the learning experience fresh.

1. Story-Based Learning

A story-based narrative can help you create an interactive and compelling storyline-based game to engage the students.

For example, you can introduce a situation where students have become part of an environmental organization trying to preserve an ecosystem. Add issues such as habitat destruction, pollution, and deforestation. Students will be needed to make choices to preserve the habitat. This makes the session interesting while eliminating any safety concerns. 

2. Escape Room Sessions

You can design escape room-like activities where students must find and implement relevant clues to progress. The approach will simulate their critical thinking and hone their collaborative skills while helping them make deductions on the go.

Since 97% of learners desire to play and perform activities, a mystery activity session can delight them.

3. Interactive Online Challenges

Game-based assessment and learning can also be conducted online. You can create interactive puzzles and quizzes that deliver instant feedback.

Based on the instant results, learners can track their progress, retake the quizzes, and compete with others. It will reinforce their learning while making the session engaging.

4. Role-Playing Simulations

You can also leverage role-playing simulations to help learners immerse themselves in the topics to increase their retention. For example, students can imitate historical figures instead of giving them lengthy texts to read about their lives. 

The sense of immersion will help students deeply comprehend the situation.

In Conclusion

Game-based learning can be highly beneficial, especially among Gen Zs and young learners. Seeing how most learners are familiar with games and technology, using GBL can boost their learning experience. Moreover, it can help them retain knowledge.

With Hurix Digital’s learning management, you can integrate intuitive and appealing strategies into your traditional teaching regime. The platform has a comprehensive eLearning and training solution to gamify your learning experience.

You can reach Hurix Digital today and boost your teaching sessions with the power of gaming.