Digital Learning Games a Curriculum Trend
Today’s students spend most of their hours on electronic devices. According to Pew Research Center (2013) study, 78% of teens own a cellphone; furthermore, 74% of teens have access to the internet on their cell phone, tablets, and other media devices. Based on these statistics, students are living in a “digital environment that has shaped how they think, behave, and act” (Gu, Zuh, Guo, 2013, p. 392). Therefore, it is vital to incorporate technology into the classroom environment because it caters students’ needs and interests.
Roots of Digital Learning Games
Due to the immersion of technology, a new pedagogical trend is the implementation of digital learning games, also called game-based learning. Although games have been accessible in the classroom for decades, digital learning games provide a different approach because “they can promote challenges, co-operation, engagement, and the development of problem solving strategies” (Gros, 2007, p. 23) necessary for students in the digital age. At first, digital learning games were considered distracting and not incorporated in the classroom. Moreover, teachers struggled to find games that followed their curriculum (Herold, …show more content…
For example, digital learning games create a virtual world that is similar to the real world which “enables the player to enthusiastically connect with the subject matter” (Chaudhary, 2008, p. 4); therefore, providing a real life experience that cannot be accomplished by a textbook or class lecture. Another strength is that students’ retention, creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills arise when playing digital learning games (Chaudhary, 2008). Furthermore, teachers noted low-performing students benefit the most from digital learning games because these games are appealing to students and focus on intrinsic motivation (New York University,
Today’s students spend most of their hours on electronic devices. According to Pew Research Center (2013) study, 78% of teens own a cellphone; furthermore, 74% of teens have access to the internet on their cell phone, tablets, and other media devices. Based on these statistics, students are living in a “digital environment that has shaped how they think, behave, and act” (Gu, Zuh, Guo, 2013, p. 392). Therefore, it is vital to incorporate technology into the classroom environment because it caters students’ needs and interests.
Roots of Digital Learning Games
Due to the immersion of technology, a new pedagogical trend is the implementation of digital learning games, also called game-based learning. Although games have been accessible in the classroom for decades, digital learning games provide a different approach because “they can promote challenges, co-operation, engagement, and the development of problem solving strategies” (Gros, 2007, p. 23) necessary for students in the digital age. At first, digital learning games were considered distracting and not incorporated in the classroom. Moreover, teachers struggled to find games that followed their curriculum (Herold, …show more content…
For example, digital learning games create a virtual world that is similar to the real world which “enables the player to enthusiastically connect with the subject matter” (Chaudhary, 2008, p. 4); therefore, providing a real life experience that cannot be accomplished by a textbook or class lecture. Another strength is that students’ retention, creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills arise when playing digital learning games (Chaudhary, 2008). Furthermore, teachers noted low-performing students benefit the most from digital learning games because these games are appealing to students and focus on intrinsic motivation (New York University,