Education Technology Services
Enhancing Student Engagement Through Interactive Game-based Learning
The advent of motion pictures revolutionised entertainment, instantly capturing the hearts of audiences. Through their compelling narratives, memorable characters, and groundbreaking techniques, films reached a far wider audience than ever before.
If education can be made as engaging as movies, it will better capture students’ focus. After all, when learning becomes a game, a new playground of possibilities opens up for students. Recall the days of dull lectures and dense textbooks filled with endless paragraphs of tiny, squinting text—learning often felt like a tiresome chore. Even when colourful illustrations and diagrams were introduced to enliven the material, the boost in student engagement was only marginal.
But today, technology is transforming education. Innovative approaches such as gamification and game-based learning make learning immersive and engaging. Students often find themselves so engrossed in gamified learning that they don't even realise they are studying.
As American author and teacher Rick Riordan famously said, “My goal in the classroom was always to make sure they were having so much fun that they didn’t realise they were learning.”
Is gamification the same as game-based learning?
amification is often mistaken for game-based learning and vice-versa. But they are both distinct approaches. While both aim to make learning more engaging, they do so in different ways.
Gamification involves incorporating game-like features such as point systems, badges, and conventional learning activities to boost engagement and motivation. For instance, a language learning app might let users unlock new lesson levels by earning points from completing previous lessons or challenge friends by competing on leaderboards. This approach makes learning more enjoyable and encourages continued engagement.
On the other hand, game-based learning uses purpose-built games to teach specific skills or concepts. For example, maths concepts can be taught through puzzles or challenges that require students to apply mathematical skills, creating an immersive and interactive learning experience.
Key differences between the two include:
- Purpose: Gamification is about adding game-like elements to existing activities, while game-based learning involves using games as the primary tool for instruction.
- Scope: Gamification can be applied to a variety of activities, while game-based learning is more focused on specific skills or subjects.
- Level of immersion: Game-based learning often provides a more immersive experience, as learners are fully engaged in the game world.
In essence, both approaches make learning more engaging, fun, motivating, and effective.
Benefits at a Glance
Both gamification and game-based learning offer unique advantages. Here's a breakdown of their distinct benefits:
Benefits of gamification:
- Increased engagement: Gamification makes learning more fun and engaging, motivating learners to participate actively.
- Improved motivation: Gamification elements like points, badges, and leaderboards can create a sense of competition and achievement, boosting motivation. In fact, using gamification in training has resulted in a 44% boost in motivation.
- Enhanced learning outcomes: Gamification enhances information retention by making learning more engaging and enjoyable. Challenge-based gamification can improve learning outcomes by 89.45% over traditional lectures.
Benefits of game-based learning:
- Immersive learning experiences: Game-based learning creates immersive worlds where students can experiment and explore concepts. One study even found a 75.5% increase in student understanding using this approach.
- Hands-on practice: Games often involve hands-on activities that allow learners to practise skills and apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.
- Skill development: Game-based learning can help learners develop a variety of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
- Motivation and engagement: Games can be highly motivating and engaging, encouraging learners to persevere and achieve their goals.
In conclusion, both gamification and game-based learning offer significant benefits for learners of all ages. By carefully considering the specific needs and goals of your learners, you can choose the approach that best suits your educational context.
Choosing between gamification and game-based learning
When deciding whether to use gamification or game-based learning in your educational context, consider the following factors:
Gamification:
- Ideal for: Enhancing existing activities, motivating learners, and providing personalised learning experiences.
- Consider if: You want to add elements of fun and engagement to existing learning materials or activities.
Game-based learning:
- Ideal for: Teaching specific skills or concepts in an immersive and engaging way.
- Consider if: You want to create a complete learning experience centred around a game.
Additional considerations:
- Learner age and interests: Different age groups and learners may respond better to different types of gamification or game-based learning.
- Learning objectives: Consider the specific skills or concepts you want learners to acquire. Some may be better suited to gamification, while others may benefit more from game-based learning.
- Resources and expertise: Evaluate the resources and expertise available to implement gamification or game-based learning effectively.
Conclusion
Digital natives thrive with gamified learning. Both gamification and game-based learning offer engaging ways to enhance education. Gamification adds a sprinkle of fun to traditional lessons, boosting motivation and engagement. Game-based learning immerses students in interactive experiences, fostering critical thinking and deeper understanding.
What to choose depends on your goals and students' needs. Want to spice up existing lessons? Gamification is your pick. Need a complete learning experience? Game-based learning is the way to go.
The future of education is gamified. Educators have a unique opportunity to leverage these tools for better student outcomes.
How can Infosys BPM help?
Infosys BPM's Edutech Platform transforms learning with innovative technology. Our platform makes education more interactive and engaging, boosting student satisfaction and fostering healthy competition.