Students can learn basic math by watching a teacher write information on a whiteboard, completing a worksheet and practicing the concepts in homework.
They can also play a game that allows them to learn and practice basic math concepts by moving an on-screen token backward or forward, depending on whether they answer problems correctly.
The first approach is an example of traditional learning, which has typically been at the heart of classroom instruction. The second approach, game-based learning, has gained popularity in education.
Teachers have found that game-based learning yields benefits, for example, increased student engagement and knowledge retention — especially when they follow tips such as establishing clear objectives for learning and providing adequate support for students.
The practice of game-based learning uses games to build students’ mastery of subject matter material. Games are the cornerstone of instruction in game-based learning, with lessons built around gameplay to achieve the desired learning outcomes.
Instead of using the passive learning of traditional classroom practices, game-based learning makes students active participants in their instruction. It keeps them engaged with practices that encourage both learning and fun.
Game-based learning plays a significant role in education today, and its prevalence in instruction continues to grow. Analysts at Market.US project that the global game-based learning market will reach $77.4 billion by 2032, compared with its value of $14 billion in 2023.
However, game-based learning is hardly a new phenomenon. Its origins are in games first played thousands of years ago, including strategy-based games like the dice game Senet and chess. Educators have turned to gameplay in their instruction as psychologists for decades have pointed out the benefits of play in learning and development.
The advent of digital learning has changed game-based learning. Today’s game-based learning can use physical or digital games.
Educational computer games made their debut in the 1960s. Now, with a significant number of students playing digital games in their daily lives — Pew Research Center reports that, in 2024, 85 percent of U.S. teens played video games — the use of digital game-based instruction has also grown.
Educational technology (edtech) companies are following this trend, making more digital products available to provide game-based learning in the classroom.
An exploration of game-based learning commonly yields information about gamification. Therefore, understanding what gamification in education is and its relationship to game-based learning is helpful.
Gamification in education refers to the use of gameplay to supplement other instruction in a lesson.
Game-based learning and gamification are both styles of instruction that use games to increase student engagement. However, while game-based learning makes games the focus of instruction, gamification uses games as just one element of a lesson.
The following are the key ways the two terms differ:
Game-based learning features a game that teaches instructional concepts. Gamification relies on other instructional methods to teach those concepts, adding a game — awarding prizes according to the number of correct answers a student provides, for example — to reinforce that learning.
Research has addressed trends in game-based learning as well as attitudes about its use. The following are some resources that reveal research findings about these topics:
Game-based learning draws on students’ love of play, competition and overcoming challenges to deeply engage them in the lesson. Using repetition, practice and goal achievement, this type of learning helps students gain knowledge about a lesson’s subject matter — sometimes without even realizing they’re doing so.
In fact, science is behind the effectiveness of game-based learning. The brain releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin that create positive feelings and increased focus when a person succeeds at a task or competition. The same factors that make video games so appealing encourage engagement among those playing games in the classroom.
Game-based learning can provide various positive outcomes for both students and teachers, promoting student engagement and helping classes meet educational objectives. The benefits of this approach to instruction include the following:
Studies have shown how game-based learning can support attainment of educational goals. The following are some studies that show the impact of gameplay in education:
Whether using games that are physical or digital, educators have plenty of options for implementing game-based learning. Below are examples of the types of games that can teach students key concepts in the classroom.
Students can use computers and other devices to access digital games that teach subjects ranging from language to math. A grammar lesson might, for example, use an online competition inspired by a quiz show to test students’ knowledge.
Digital tools can provide simulated examples of systems, processes and terms. Students can run their own simulated digital stores, for example, to learn about economic concepts.
With lesson-focused modifications to their rules, many popular board games played at home can have applications for classroom learning. Students playing Clue or Clue Junior can strengthen their logic skills as they solve mysteries, while Scrabble can help build vocabulary.
Teachers can use card games to help students learn. Uno, for example, can help students learn about similarities and differences as they devise their strategy for winning the game. Students can practice multiplying the numbers they see on the Uno cards they draw from the deck.
Game-based learning through role-playing can teach about subjects like literature or history. Students can perform plays or tell stories about themselves as historical or literary figures.
Games that incorporate elements of physical and digital games are another option for game-based learning. Students studying history might access an online timeline that teaches them about important events and this information could provide ideas for their costumes as they dress as figures in those events.
Educators seeking ideas for implementing game-based learning in their classroom have various resources for inspiration. The following articles offer suggestions:
The growing popularity and positive results of game-based learning are clear, and teachers can follow some practices to maximize its effectiveness. Below are six tips for providing high-quality game-based learning.
Establishing learning objectives helps ensure that the games students play educate and inform as well as entertain. By aligning gameplay with learning objectives, teachers can identify and plan for games that are appropriate for helping students gain the knowledge and skills that fit with the lesson.
In planning for game-based learning, keeping the needs, strengths and learning habits of the class in mind is helpful. Factors such as age and attention span should help teachers determine what type of game each lesson will feature — from role-playing for hands-on learners, for example, to digital games for visual learners.
Exploring options for games that are most likely to make a positive impact is critical. Positive reviews and recommendations from teachers and educational organizations can steer planning toward games that are proven to engage and inform.
Whether they’re learning a new technology for a digital game or following rules for a physical game, students and educators alike need support along the way. Clear instructions and training and quick responses to questions can make the implementation of game-based learning go more smoothly.
The outcomes of games — or levels within games — should be immediately apparent. Quickly understanding how they performed, what they’ve learned and what they still need to master can help students close knowledge gaps and retain the material they learn.
Teachers need to observe how their students play the assigned games and what information they’re learning and retaining. Student performance and feedback can inform adjustments to game-based learning to ensure that it’s making the greatest impact.
From deep dives into what game-based learning is to tips for implementing it, resources are available that can help teachers make the most of the practice. The following are some of the resources available:
Game-based learning makes students active participants in classroom lessons, strengthening their engagement and helping them master key material. By exploring the various types of game-based instruction — and incorporating best practices for its use — educators can ensure that they’re effectively incorporating this increasingly popular approach to teaching.
