Active learning games – What are they?

What does the word ‘games’ get to your mind - fun, excitement, full of life? Have you ever pondered on the thought of including games in learning which will make the learning active as well as interesting and effective?

Active learning refers to involving the students in various activities for the purpose of learning. It is where the instructor strives to create a learning environment in which the student can learn to restructure the new information and their prior knowledge into new knowledge about the content and to practice using it. This is usually done by involving students in many activities during the course of instruction for the retention of learning.

Active learning methods engage students directly in thinking and problem solving activities.

There are many methods of active learning viz. small-group discussions, demonstrations, debates, concept questions. But the one method that we will be discussing in this article is using games as an active learning method.

According to Caillois (1961) ‘a game as an activity that is voluntary and enjoyable, separate from the real world, uncertain, unproductive (in that the activity does not produce any goods of external value) and governed by rules.’

Active learning games can be included both in a face to face as well as a virtual environment. Games if included while instructing makes learning more fun and this can be incorporated in both the settings mentioned above.

Playing games in a face to face environment helps the students to socialize with other students. But now this can be experienced in a virtual environment also where the instructor can plan games in such a way that students are involved in supporting their team members or helping their team members to win the game.

Many types of games can be included while teaching in today’s times. Games like word game, puzzles, logic games, strategy games, board games and many more can be incorporated in a lesson. Also online educational games which are freely available on the World Wide Web can be incorporated in a virtual as well as a face to face environment (for a variety in learning).

Games today are being recognized for their universal appeal and ability to involve learners in concepts that are otherwise difficult to teach. Teachers and learners alike appreciate the effectiveness of games to overcome apparent barriers to learning. Thus, active learning games are a good way to make concepts clear as well as interesting.

To know more about the research that supports active learning games you can visit the link below.

http://strategic.mit.edu/PDF_archive/3%20Refereed%20Conference/3_57_CDIO_active_learning.pdf