Research has shown that there are many benefits for playing games in the classroom. When planning lessons, teachers should try to incorporate at least one game a day into one of the key learning areas as either a teaching and learning tool, assessment strategy or classroom motivator.
When playing games, students become more engaged in their learning, content is reinforced and consolidated and it creates a positive learning environment. Games have a way of ‘tricking’ students into learning and practising facts and skills.
Playing games in the classroom increases overall motivation. By playing games, students become more motivated to learn, pay attention and participate in learning activities. Games help students to become a part of a team as well as take responsibility for their own learning and encourage independence. They can also be a great classroom management tool, helping to motivate a class.
By playing a game, students may be able to understand a new concept or idea, take on a different perspective, or experiment with different options or variables.
Through games, students can learn a variety of important skills. There are countless skills that students can develop through game playing such as critical thinking skills, creativity, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. While playing games, students develop a variety of connections with the content and can form positive memories of learning.
Students can become very competitive in the classroom, especially boys. Games are a great way to control the competitiveness between peers. By using games in the classroom, students can compete against each other whilst games are a great way to control the competitiveness between peers. By using games in the classroom, students can compete against each other whilst learning essential social skills. By using games in the classroom, students can compete against each other whilst playing a game, then support each other during other learning activities.
Worksheets can be quite daunting and stressful for some students. It can also create a negative perception of a students’ learning environment. Games can make learning fun and engaging for the class. As an alternative to worksheets, games can be used as a less stressful way for students to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and understanding of a topic. Being less stressed will help students to have a more positive perception of their learning environment and give a true indication of their own learning.
Playing games in the classroom is always great fun!
When playing a game, endorphins are produced that stimulate the brain and gives students a feeling of euphoria. This feeling of euphoria creates a great sense of happiness and excitement for students in the classroom, developing a positive learning environment. What better motivation than to have a positive learning experience? Games are a great tool to use in the classroom to consolidate new knowledge. After teaching new content to the class, provide students with a game that will consolidate their understanding and make connections with what they already know.
What better way to learn and practice skills than to play games, have fun and socialise with your classmates? I encourage you to include games in your lesson planning and group rotations.
Looking to build up games in your classroom? The Alphabet Tree has a range of resources in store across a variety of KLA’s.
Looking for a great PD course about using games in the classroom? Then why not visit Vikki Grant’s course “Antidote to boring lessons” via Open Learning
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