Happy Valentine’s Day, friends of Filament! 🎮🧠💕
(Image source: Tumblr)
There’s a lot to love about game-based learning – so much, in fact, that we’re spending the annual holiday of fondness and affection celebrating some of our favorite aspects of the medium.
Check out our lighthearted countdown of five reasons why we love game-based learning below, then sound off on our Facebook or Twitter with yours!
Learning Games Help Players Develop Future-Ready Skills
Have you checked out CEO Dan White’s recent interview with EdSurge? In it, he cites how learning games excel at helping players practice key future-ready skills like collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking. And that’s just the beginning – game-based learning has also proven to aid in fostering social and emotional learning (SEL) outcomes among young learners, and in our experience, help engage students who struggle with more traditional modes of learning.
Game-Based Learning Intersects Cutting-Edge Technologies
From web browsers to virtual reality and everything in between, meaningful game-based learning experiences can be had on nearly every platform imaginable. Recently, our team has been looking forward to the possibilities afforded by the Oculus Quest – an upcoming all-in-one VR headset that promises users premium, high-fidelity experiences without the need to be wired up to a PC or game console. We’re also totally obsessed with Nintendo Labo, a cardboard-based construction toy platform that introduces young learners to fundamental STEM principles in a safe and exploratory (and fun!) setting. What comes next is anyone’s guess – but you can bet we’ll embrace it with open arms!
Educational Games Can Create Real-World Impact
From helping to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders, to teaching foundational English language arts (ELA) skills, and even helping family members connect to one another through shared learning experiences, game-based learning is capable of realizing significant real-world impact. No matter the platform, subject area, or intended audience, games have the power to engage, inspire, motivate, and educate in ways simply impossible to emulate using any other medium.
Game-Based Learning Isn’t Just for Young Learners…
Make no mistake – game-based learning isn’t just for kids. Research has shown a host of benefits associated with the use of learning games and simulations among adults for training purposes. VR in particular has proven to be a highly effective and engaging learning tool for users young and old alike – if you’re still skeptical, we encourage you to check out our roundup of inspiring use cases for virtual reality in both corporate and medical training settings.
…It’s For Everyone!
Seriously! Educators, there has never been a better time than right now to begin incorporating game-based activities and lessons into your classroom – we even created a free eBook to help you get started! Learning games may also be of interest to nonprofits, instructional designers, and educational publishers who wish to not only engage their audiences, but delight and inspire them through memorable, one-of-a-kind game-based learning experiences. Furthermore, much contemporary learning game-focused research and initiatives are currently focused on the intersection of assistive technology and learning games – that is, making educational gaming accessible to more players than ever before. Game-based learning has a bright future ahead – and we can’t wait to be a part of it!
We hope you enjoyed our roundup and perhaps even learned something new! In the mood for more Valentine’s Day fun? Check out Senior Game Artist Natasha Soglin’s iconic speed sketch featuring two characters from our physical science learning game Motion Force!