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Benefits of Applying Gamification in School
Benefits of Applying Gamification in school
By Valeria Ulloa Severino
In our modern world, technology is naturally a driving force behind learning and the development of curricula. To achieve better results from learners, today’s educators are increasingly utilizing cutting-edge digital tools and strategies in their teaching methods. Gamification for learning is one of these strategies used increasingly by teachers around the world. Using gamified elements can positively impact student engagement and collaboration, allowing them to learn more efficiently as a result. Gamification is about applying gaming strategies to improve learning and make it more engaging for individuals. Gamification for learning can be beneficial because games instill lifelong skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, social awareness, cooperation, and collaboration. Games also motivate individuals, increase interest in certain subjects, reduce the rate of attrition among learners, improve grades, and enhance their cognitive abilities. The global gamification market’s estimated CAGR growth is 30%, around $31 billion, between 2020 and 2025 compared to 2019.
Gamification in education is all about applying gaming dynamics in the classroom to improve learning and enhance students’ skills and performance. In fact, it helps instil crucial skills such as collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Plus, it fosters engagement, increases motivation and interest in certain subjects and offers immediate feedback to pupils. What makes gamification so effective? The answer is in neuroscience. Gamification in education statistics proven that brain-wise, gamification increases a feeling of motivation and enjoyment through dopamine release and hippocampus stimulation. As for the benefits of gamification in the classroom, there are plenty. Firstly, playing keeps the brain healthy by training memory and attention and preventing cognitive decline. Secondly, it relies on emotions, which makes learning retention more effective. Finally, gamification’s storytelling-dynamic helps students process information without boring them with lists of notions.
There are many proven benefits to using gamification in the classroom, such as:
- Students feel like they have ownership over their learning
- A more relaxed atmosphere in regard to failure, since learners can simply try again
- More fun in the classroom
- Learning becomes visible through progress indicators
- Students may uncover an intrinsic motivation for learning
- Students can explore different identities through different avatars or characters
- Students often are more comfortable in gaming environments, so are more proactive and open to making mistakes
- Higher engagement and concentration levels amongst students
When implemented well, a gamified lesson keeps learning objectives the same but makes the learning process more fun.
Gamification is a tool that can build motivation and interest, in effect reducing student-driven issues in the teaching process. Stimulated by the effects that game elements can produce, many researchers have looked into the influence of gamification in an educational context, getting favorable results, such as the increase of engagement, user retention, knowledge, and cooperation (Hakulinen and Auvinen 2014; Tvarozek and Brza 2014).
REFERENCE
- Ibahim Yildirim (2017) The effects of gamification-based teaching practices on student achievement and students’ attitudes toward lessons
- Bluej (2019). Bluej. https://www.bluej.org/. Accessed 16 Jan 2019.
- Codish, D., & Ravid, G. (2014). Personality based gamification-educational gamification for extroverts and introverts. In CHAIS Conference for the Study of Innovation and Learning Technologies, vol. 1.
- The effects of gamification-based teaching practices on student achievement and students’ attitudes toward lessons – ScienceDirect
