STEM Gaming: A New Way to Learn
Game-based learning is a rising trend in STEM learning. It’s a powerful tool to help motivate students of all learning levels. Students of all ages can benefit from game-based education, so it’s important for K-12 educators to consider implementing game-based learning into their lesson plans.
In the article below, you’ll learn about what game-based learning is and how it’s being implemented in STEM education. You’ll also learn five great benefits of game-based learning for K-12 students.
What is Game-Based Learning?
Game-based learning is learning that uses games to help engage and educate students. When students are engaged and interested in what they’re learning, they’re more likely to retain information and grasp difficult concepts.
This type of learning can look different, depending on the educational goals. For example, students learning about economics may use a game that teaches them about investing and building a business.
How is Game-Based Learning Being Implemented in STEM Education?
K-12 educators are using game-based learning to help their students improve in STEM education. Problem-solving skills and hands-on learning are two of the most important elements for engaging students in STEM learning. Because game-based learning relies heavily on these two things, it’s a powerful tool for STEM education.
Many educators are using digital and online games to improve STEM learning. While offline and analog options exist, using digital games allows educators to benefit from the available technology.
Today there are many STEM digital learning games available. These games provide an immersive and interactive experience for students, helping them to see value in learning beyond mere memorization of facts.
How is Gaming Helping Kids Learn?
Gaming provides many benefits for students in educational settings. The following are five meaningful ways game-based learning can help your K-12 students improve their STEM skills.
Benefit 1: It helps students build problem-solving skills.
Problem-solving skills are often difficult to teach in a traditional educational setting. There’s no formula to memorize that will help students solve problems. While hands-on activities can help students build these skills, game-based learning is one of the most powerful tools to help students learn to think strategically when faced with a problem.
Gaming is all about making decisions quickly in order to succeed. Students will have to think through the problems they face in the game, often in a matter of seconds. This will help them learn how to think on their feet, an important life skill that cannot always be taught in book learning.
Benefit 2: Games allow students to build certain skills.
Game-based learning is a powerful way to help students build skills. While students can learn some skills from a variety of games, each game often centers around building a certain set of skills. For example, an adventure game may help students learn how to read maps, providing them with a practical skill they may use outside the classroom.
There are also a lot of strategy games that help students learn how to manage projects and use finances to grow a successful business. These “tycoon” style games provide students with an immersive opportunity to learn the basic skills and concepts for engaging in economic enterprise.
Benefit 3: Game-based learning can help students focus.
We cannot overstate the value of educational tools that help students focus. Games require constant interaction for a student to succeed. Because they engage a student’s mind and body (by interacting with the game itself), games are a great way to engage students who struggle to focus during lectures or reading.
These games require real-time interaction, which is a powerful way to improve a student’s focus. Time spent in game-based learning may even help students engage with learning outside the environment of their game.
Benefit 4: Gaming is an engaging experience for students of all levels.
Games are created to grab and sustain the user’s attention. That makes them a great tool for students who might struggle to engage with learning. Since students must actively participate in a game to see certain outcomes, it helps students at all levels to engage.
This is great for K-12 educators who may have students with a variety of learning differences. Instead of worrying about helping the struggling student catch up while keeping the excelling student interested, teachers can trust that the hands-on activities of game-based learning can adapt to the needs of each student.
Gaming is also a great tool for shy students who may not normally give their input during lessons. Game-based learning provides them with an opportunity to use their keyboard to voice opinions in interactive games.
Benefit 5: Gaming encourages a growth mindset in students.
Games are all about meeting goals to progress toward a certain goal in-game. Students sometimes feel bogged down by book learning, especially when they feel like they aren’t learning the information they need to know for the next test.
Game-based learning allows students to solve problems and see visible progress toward a certain goal. Since learning no longer feels like learning, students are able to adopt a growth mindset. This can be applied to other areas of learning, allowing students to feel confident tackling future educational goals.
Final Thoughts
Game-based learning is a powerful tool for K-12 educators to use for teaching students STEM concepts. By introducing STEM concepts early and often, educators can help equip students for futures in STEM careers.
Gaming is just one of many tools teachers can use to help their students improve their STEM-related skills. Game-based learning can help students build a variety of skills, including problem-solving skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Games can also help students of all academic levels focus and fully engage in their education. This helps students embrace a growth mindset, allowing them to reach new levels of success in all areas of life.
