School Game: What Is It and How Can You Use It?
Do you want to make learning more fun and engaging for your students? Do you want to help them develop essential skills and competencies while having a good time? If so, you might want to try using school games in your classroom or online.
school game
School games are educational games that are designed to help students learn about certain subjects, expand concepts reinforce development, understand a historical event or culture, or assist them in learning a skill as they play. School games can be played in the classroom or online, and can involve different types of games such as board games, card games, video games, simulation games, and interactive games.
What is a school game?
A school game is a type of educational game that is specifically designed for educational purposes, rather than purely for entertainment. According to the definition by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), an educational game is "a form of play activity that contains some elements of both chance and skill, has a goal or objective to be attained, and is governed by a set of rules that specify how the game is to be played" . A school game is a subset of educational games that is intended to be used in formal or informal educational settings, such as schools, libraries, museums, or homes.
There are many different types of school games that can be used for various subject areas and learning objectives. Some examples of school games are:
Board games: These are games that are played on a board or a table, using pieces, cards, dice, or other objects. Board games can help students practice math, logic, strategy, memory, and social skills. Some examples of board games that can be used in education are Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess, Clue, and Settlers of Catan.
Card games: These are games that are played with a deck of cards, either standard or customized. Card games can help students practice language, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and communication skills. Some examples of card games that can be used in education are Uno, Go Fish, Memory, Apples to Apples, and Taboo.
Video games: These are games that are played on a computer, console, mobile device, or online platform, using graphics, sound, animation, and interactivity. Video games can help students learn about science, technology engineering, art, and math (STEAM), as well as history, geography, culture, and social issues. Some examples of video games that can be used in education are Minecraft, SimCity, Civilization, Oregon Trail, and Assassin's Creed.
Simulation games: These are games that simulate a real-world situation or scenario, such as a business, a war, a flight, or a surgery. Simulation games can help students learn about complex systems, decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving. Some examples of simulation games that can be used in education are RollerCoaster Tycoon, Flight Simulator, SimAnt, Lemonade Stand, and Surgeon Simulator.
Interactive games: These are games that involve physical or verbal interaction between players or with the game environment, such as gestures, movements, speech, or touch. Interactive games can help students learn about kinesthetic, auditory, and tactile modalities, as well as collaboration, communication, and creativity. Some examples of interactive games that can be used in education are Wii Sports, Kinect Adventures, Just Dance, Karaoke Revolution, and Pictionary.
Benefits of school games
School games can offer many benefits for students and teachers alike. Some of the benefits of using school games in education are:
Increasing motivation: School games can make learning more fun and enjoyable for students, which can increase their motivation and interest in the subject matter. School games can also provide students with a sense of challenge, achievement, and reward, which can boost their self-confidence and self-efficacy.
Enhancing attentiveness: School games can capture and sustain students' attention by providing them with stimulating and immersive experiences. School games can also help students focus on the relevant information and ignore the irrelevant distractions.
Developing problem-solving skills: School games can help students develop and apply various problem-solving skills, such as such as analysis, synthesis, evaluation, reasoning, logic, and creativity. School games can also help students learn from their mistakes and improve their strategies.
Fostering social and emotional learning: School games can help students develop and practice various social and emotional skills, such as communication, collaboration, cooperation, empathy, perspective-taking, and conflict resolution. School games can also help students express their emotions, cope with stress, and regulate their behavior.
Challenges of school games
Despite the many benefits of school games, there are also some challenges or drawbacks that need to be considered and addressed. Some of the challenges of using school games in education are:
Technical issues: School games may require certain technical requirements, such as hardware, software, internet connection, or technical support. These may not be readily available or accessible for all students and teachers, especially in low-resource settings. Technical issues may also cause disruptions or delays in the game session, which may affect the learning outcomes and satisfaction.
Accessibility barriers: School games may not be accessible or inclusive for all students, especially those with special needs or disabilities. For example, some school games may not have captions, subtitles, audio descriptions, or alternative input methods for students with hearing, visual, or motor impairments. Some school games may also not have adjustable difficulty levels, adaptive feedback, or personalized learning paths for students with learning difficulties or diverse abilities.
Ethical concerns: School games may raise some ethical concerns, such as such as privacy, security, consent, or fairness. For example, some school games may collect, store, or share students' personal data, such as their names, grades, or preferences, without their knowledge or permission. Some school games may also expose students to inappropriate or harmful content, such as violence, sexism, racism, or cyberbullying. Some school games may also create unfair or biased situations, such as favoring certain groups of students over others based on their gender, race, or ability.
Assessment difficulties: School games may pose some challenges for assessing students' learning outcomes and progress. For example, some school games may not have clear or measurable learning objectives, criteria, or indicators. Some school games may also not provide sufficient or reliable evidence of students' learning achievements or difficulties. Some school games may also not align with the existing curriculum standards or assessment methods.
How can you use school games?
If you are interested in using school games in your classroom or online, here are some tips and ideas on how to implement them effectively and efficiently.
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Choosing the right school game
The first step is to choose a suitable school game for your students and your learning objectives. Here are some criteria that you can use to select a good school game:
Alignment with curriculum objectives: The school game should match the learning goals and outcomes that you want your students to achieve. The school game should also cover the relevant content and skills that you want your students to learn.
Appropriateness for age and level: The school game should be suitable for the age and level of your students. The school game should not be too easy or too hard for your students, but rather provide them with an optimal level of challenge and support.
Engagement and interactivity: The school game should be engaging and interactive for your students. The school game should capture and sustain their attention, interest, and curiosity. The school game should also allow them to interact with the game elements, such as the characters, the story, the environment, or the feedback.
Feedback and support: The school game should provide feedback and support for your students. The school game should give them clear and timely feedback on their actions and performance. The school game should also provide them with hints, tips, scaffolds, or resources to help them overcome difficulties or enhance their learning.
Diversity and inclusion: The school game should be diverse and inclusive for your students. The school game should represent and respect the diversity of your students' backgrounds, cultures cultures, languages, and abilities. The school game should also promote and celebrate the inclusion of all students, regardless of their differences or preferences.
Preparing for the school game
The second step is to prepare for the school game session. Here are some steps that you can take to ensure a smooth and successful game session:
Setting clear goals and expectations: You should communicate the learning objectives and outcomes of the school game to your students, as well as the rules and procedures of the game session. You should also explain the roles and responsibilities of yourself, your students, and the game itself.
Creating a positive learning environment: You should create a conducive and supportive learning environment for your students, where they feel safe, comfortable, and respected. You should also encourage a positive and constructive attitude towards the school game, such as curiosity, enthusiasm, and cooperation.
Providing necessary materials and equipment: You should provide or arrange the required materials and equipment for the school game, such as the game itself, the devices, the internet connection, the headphones, or the speakers. You should also check and test the materials and equipment before the game session to ensure that they work properly.
Reviewing safety and etiquette rules: You should review and remind your students of the safety and etiquette rules of the school game, such as protecting their personal information, respecting other players, avoiding inappropriate or harmful content, or reporting any problems or issues.
Playing the school game
The third step is to play the school game with your students. Here are some strategies that you can use to facilitate an effective and enjoyable game session:
Facilitating student participation and collaboration: You should facilitate student participation and collaboration during the school game, by asking questions, giving prompts, providing feedback, or offering guidance. You should also encourage your students to interact with each other, share their ideas, opinions, or experiences, or help each other out.
Monitoring student progress and performance: You should monitor student progress and performance during the school game, by by observing their actions, responses, or emotions. You should also collect and analyze data from the school game, such as scores, levels, achievements, or errors. You should use this information to evaluate your students' learning outcomes and satisfaction, as well as to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Providing guidance and feedback: You should provide guidance and feedback to your students during the school game, by giving them hints, tips, suggestions, or explanations. You should also praise their efforts, achievements, or improvements, and encourage them to keep trying, learning, and having fun.
Adapting to challenges and opportunities: You should adapt to the challenges and opportunities that may arise during the school game, such as technical issues, student difficulties, or unexpected events. You should be flexible and creative in finding solutions or alternatives, and use these situations as learning opportunities for yourself and your students.
Reflecting on the school game
The fourth step is to reflect on the school game experience with your students. Here are some ways that you can do this:
Debriefing with students and colleagues: You should debrief with your students and colleagues after the school game session, by discussing what happened, what they learned, what they liked, or what they disliked. You should also solicit their feedback and suggestions on how to improve the school game or the game session.
Evaluating student learning outcomes and satisfaction: You should evaluate your students' learning outcomes and satisfaction after the school game session, by using various assessment methods, such as quizzes, tests, surveys, interviews, or portfolios. You should also compare the results with your initial goals and expectations, and celebrate your students' achievements and progress.
Identifying strengths and weaknesses of the school game: You should identify the strengths and weaknesses of the school game after the school game session, by by reviewing the criteria that you used to select the school game, such as alignment, appropriateness, engagement, feedback, and diversity. You should also consider the benefits and challenges that you encountered while using the school game, such as motivation, attentiveness, problem-solving, social and emotional learning, technical issues, accessibility barriers, ethical concerns, and assessment difficulties.
Planning for future improvement: You should plan for future improvement after the school game session, by setting new goals and expectations, choosing new or different school games, modifying or adapting the existing school game or the game session, or seeking more resources or support.
Examples of school games
To give you some inspiration and ideas, here are some examples of popular or innovative school games that can be used in different subject areas. These are not the only school games that exist, but they are some of the ones that have been proven to be effective and engaging for students and teachers.
Prodigy Math
Prodigy Math is an online role-playing game that helps students master math skills from 1st grade to 8th grade through engaging quests and battles. Students can create their own avatars, explore a fantasy world, collect rewards, and compete with other players. Teachers can assign math topics, track student progress, and differentiate instruction. Prodigy Math is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and covers topics such as number sense, operations, fractions, decimals, geometry, algebra, and more.
Minecraft Education Edition
Minecraft Education Edition is a sandbox video game that allows students to create and explore virtual worlds while learning about science, technology technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), as well as history, geography, culture, and social issues. Students can build structures, design machines, conduct experiments, create art, and collaborate with other players. Teachers can use ready-made lessons, create their own lessons, or join a global community of educators. Minecraft Education Edition is based on the popular Minecraft game, but with added features and tools for education.
Hangman
Hangman is a classic word game that can be played in the classroom or online to practice spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. The game involves one player thinking of a word and the other player(s) trying to guess it by suggesting letters. For each wrong letter, a part of a hangman figure is drawn. The game ends when the word is guessed or the hangman figure is completed. Hangman can be used for any language or subject area, and can be adapted to different levels and topics.
Four Corners
Four Corners is a fun movement game that can be played in the classroom to review any topic or concept by having students choose one of four corners based on a question or statement. The game involves the teacher labeling the four corners of the room with different options, such as true/false, yes/no, A/B/C/D, or categories. The teacher then asks a question or makes a statement related to the topic or concept, and the students move to the corner that matches their answer or opinion. The teacher then reveals the correct answer or discusses the different opinions. Four Corners can be used for any subject area or grade level, and can be modified to suit different learning objectives and preferences.
Conclusion
School games are educational games that are designed to help students learn about certain subjects, expand concepts reinforce development, understand a historical event or culture, or assist them in learning a skill as they play. School games can offer many benefits for students and teachers, such as increasing motivation, enhancing attentiveness, developing problem-solving skills, and fostering social and emotional learning. However, school games also pose some challenges or drawbacks, such as technical issues, accessibility barriers, ethical concerns, and assessment difficulties. Therefore, it is important to choose the right school game, prepare for the school game session, play the school game effectively, and reflect on the school game experience. There are many examples of school games that can be used in different subject areas, such as Prodigy Math, Minecraft Education Edition, Hangman, and Four Corners. School games can be a powerful and enjoyable way to make learning more fun and engaging for your students.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about school games:
Q: What is the difference between a school game and a gamification?
A: A school game is a type of educational game that is designed for educational purposes, while gamification is the use of game elements or mechanics in non-game contexts, such as education. For example, a school game is a game that teaches math skills, while gamification is adding points, badges, or leaderboards to a math lesson.
Q: How can I find or create school games for my students?
A: There are many online platforms and resources that offer ready-made or customizable school games for different subject areas and grade levels. Some examples are Kahoot!, Quizizz, Quizlet, Classcraft, and Breakout EDU. You can also create your own school games using tools such as Scratch, GameMaker Studio, Unity, or Google Slides.
Q: How can I assess my students' learning outcomes and satisfaction from school games?
A: You can use various assessment methods to measure your students' learning outcomes and satisfaction from school games, such as such as quizzes, tests, surveys, interviews, or portfolios. You can also use data from the school game itself, such as scores, levels, achievements, or errors. You can also observe and ask your students about their feelings, opinions, or experiences from playing the school game.
Q: How can I make school games more accessible and inclusive for my students?
A: You can make school games more accessible and inclusive for your students by choosing or creating school games that have features or options that cater to different needs or preferences of your students, such as captions, subtitles, audio descriptions, alternative input methods, adjustable difficulty levels, adaptive feedback, or personalized learning paths. You can also provide or arrange additional materials or equipment that can help your students access or play the school game, such as headphones, speakers, magnifiers, or assistive devices.
Q: How can I integrate school games with other teaching methods or activities?
A: You can integrate school games with other teaching methods or activities by using them as a complement or supplement to your existing curriculum or lesson plan. You can use school games as a warm-up, review, practice, assessment, or extension activity. You can also use school games as a way to introduce, illustrate, or reinforce a topic or concept. You can also use school games as a basis for further discussion, reflection, or exploration.
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