Well-designed games—unlike competitive multiple-choice quiz games—provide immersive experiences for students. Like novels, films, plays, and other media, teachers instructor may use high-quality tools like games to help students access the curriculum while keeping engagement high. The “fun” of gameplay is a core component of why games are so successful with children, according to educators. Games can help children develop important, yet difficult, skills that they would otherwise avoid.

Leading education researcher Robert Marzano knows the power of games in the classroom. He has been involved in over 60 studies conducted by classroom teachers on the effects of games on student achievement across a variety of classes and subject areas. These studies showed that, on average, using academic games in the classroom is associated with a 20 percentile point gain in student achievement. That’s a significant number!

 

But not all classroom games are created equal. In classrooms showing the greatest gains, teachers did several specific things. To get similar results, teachers could:

Include academic content.

If games do not focus on important academic content, they will have little or no effect on student achievement and waste valuable classroom time. The most efficient way to maintain an academic focus is to organize games around important terms and phrases.

For example, during a unit on dance moves, a dance teacher might identify terms and phrases such as axial movement, line of gravity, movement phrase, and nonlocomotor movement. Questions and answers would involve information important to these terms and phrases.

Reflect on the game.

The most common error teachers make when using games is to add up team points and move on. The whole point of playing academic games in the classroom is to provide opportunities for students to examine important content in a lively and enjoyable venue. To encourage metacognition, a teacher can ask students which questions were difficult to answer and why.

For example, after students experience a Breakout EDU game, the teacher would use the 4C Reflection Cards to prompt student’s discussion about the game and can help students develop skills like the 4Cs: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. 

Encourage learning transfer.

With similar benefits to a lively classroom discussion after the game, teachers can encourage students to apply what they discovered to the content they are currently working on learning. When learning is relevant to students, they are better able to connect what they’re learning to what they already know and build new neural connections and long-term memory storage.

For example, a teacher might ask students to look over the notes they have about that content and add any ‘aha’ moments that will help them retain the learning. This might involve correcting misconceptions or adding new information that the students were unaware of.

Combining the high-powered strategies of cooperative learning and metacognition, Breakout EDU games are designed to teach a variety of academic standards while keeping students engaged and excited.  Breakout EDU empowers educators to bring active learning to lessons through fun educational puzzles. Played by millions of students worldwide, Breakout EDU offers over 1,800 games in a wide array of topics and subjects, fostering both student's academic and social development. According to teacher-led research, when teachers use games purposefully and thoughtfully, they can have a significant impact on student achievement--while keeping engagement in their classroom high.

References:

Haystead, M. W., & Marzano, R. J. (2009). Meta-Analytic Synthesis of Studies Conducted at Marzano Research Laboratory on Instructional Strategies. Englewood, CO: Marzano Research Laboratory.

Briggs, Sarah. How To Make Learning Relevant To Your Students (And Why It’s Crucial To Their Success). (accessed 4/2021). https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/how-to-make-learning-relevant/