Every time I see topics related to games, I am particularly interested, I guess I would be a perfect example for game-based learning haha. Based on this week’s theme, I would like to discuss my opinions on game-based learning, active and passive learning.
Game-based learning is a method of learning interactively through games. Through games, we can keep our brains delightfully involved in the learning process. The knowledge gained through game-based learning has a higher retention rate than other learning methods. There is a saying that: Interest is the best teacher. In this article, the authors well explained the importance of promoting interest in education; Our interest is a powerful motivational process that energizes learning, game-based learning makes really good use of this. Here’s a video which talks about the 6 Principles of Game-Based Learning carried through the game Minecraft:
When we are doing passive learning, the learning method is often through reading, watching videos, and traditional lectures. Most of the time we are only being a receiver, on the contrary, when we actually interact with the learning content, which is active learning, we can get more frequent and immediate feedback. Active learning aims at hands-on operation, discussion, problem analysis and problem solving. It reinforces important material, concepts, and skills. For instance, my instructor in programing course always require us to actually play with the codes and figure things out by making mistakes. When we correct mistakes, our brain will strengthen our understanding of the problem and deepen the impression. Active learning and the game-based learning mentioned above are both different in the same way. We can apply these two points to education, by attracting students’ attention, letting students interact with the problems and sort them out, which will undoubtedly improve the quality of learning.
Reference:
“Active Learning: Center for Teaching Innovation.” Active Learning | Center for Teaching Innovation, teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/engaging-students/active-learning.
Harackiewicz, Judith M., et al. “Interest Matters.” Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, vol. 3, no. 2, 2016, pp. 220–227., doi:10.1177/2372732216655542.
“Minecraft: Education Edition: Introduction to Game-Based Learning.” Microsoft Educator Center, education.microsoft.com/en-us/course/9f02325a/2.
ky0076518 2021-06-24
Hi Patrick,
I really appreciate your article. The purpose of gamified education is to capture people’s interest. Interest makes us change from passive to active learning. When we are actively learning, we are very focused. To help people achieve efficient learning function. I am a game lover. Gamification education makes me more passionate about learning. Games are no longer barriers to learning, but tools to help people learn.
Best,
Yan