What is the value of game based learning…
In a world where technology has taken over and it’s hard to get the attention of children and even adults?
Everywhere we look there is a technological distraction. Psychologist are telling us that our brains are being programmed to need a lot of stimulation to learn anything. With the smartphone revolution we now have a computer on us at all times. We are always connected, we are never away from technology and this has programmed our brains.
Scientists have a name for this and its called neuroplasticity. This is the process whereby the brain become more efficient at what we do everyday. So as we use the smartphone, play video games all day, chomp on Twitter, we are programming our brain to only pay attention when highly stimulated.
An unlikely solution is to take away all the technology but we know that’s not possible or practical.
We now know that the answer is to change the way that we teach students. We need to gear learning towards the way children are starting to process the world. This is where game based learning comes into play. This form of learning engages the child in a fast paced way that allows them to quickly learn.
We often hear about keeping up with the pace of technology but we also need to keep up with how fast kids learn. We are truly in the information age where almost any thing can be learned with the click of a button. This has made kids instant information borders and the classroom automatically becomes boring and slow when you are not able to access information quickly.
Game based learning is the solution, it is fun, it challenges the child and it keeps them enthralled. Children learn faster and retain the information that they receive. Classrooms need to keep up with this information paradigm shift.
As you can see, times have changed and I would say for the better.
There are many outlets to get knowledge and a teacher sitting in front of a classroom is old fashion analog in a digital world. Game based learning is one tool that we can use to compete for our children’s attention in this world where everyone is starting to have attention issues.
If you are a visionary and the type of person who is willing to change with times and to more efficient models, then you will see the value in game based learning.
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