The Surprising Benefits of Education Games (Plus Some Examples!)
Education games are becoming more and more popular, with the understanding that they can provide an effective supplement to traditional teaching methods. But what are the benefits of education games? And what games would be good examples of this trend? Let’s find out! Here are some of the benefits of education games, as well as some great examples that illustrate these ideas further!
5 Surprising Benefits of Education Games
1. Addictive. Fun. Educational.
Could education really be all three of those things? When it comes to learning games, the answer is a resounding yes! Free educational games engage kids in active learning, making the experience both fun and informative. And because these online interactive games are so addicting, kids will want to keep playing and learning – score!
2. Teachers use them to engage students
Teachers are using free educational games more and more to engage their students in the material. And it’s not just elementary school teachers - even college professors are using them! Why? Because research shows that students who play learning games tend to retain more information than those who don’t. So, if you have a child or grandchild that needs some extra help with reading, math, science, history, or geography; or if you’re a student yourself looking for an engaging way to study for an exam; this might be the answer for you!
3. Education games help with skills gaps
Did you know that education games can help with skills gaps? It's true! Free learning games can help students of all ages learn new things and practice the skills they already have. And best of all, there are tons of great options out there.
4. Increase in creativity
Did you know that playing games can actually increase your creativity? It's true! Free learning games help stimulate the part of your brain responsible for creativity and problem solving. They also keep kids entertained while developing their critical thinking skills.
5. Education games appeal to all ages
You might think that education games are only for kids. But the truth is, there are plenty of games out there that can appeal to people of all ages! Educational games are a great way to get some interactive education without feeling like you're stuck in a stuffy classroom. And don't worry, you don't have to be a gamer to enjoy these online interactive games.
Online Educational Games
Live interactive quiz
Lessons should be made easy by using quizzes. They help students retain what they have learned, and they fire up their competitive spirit, which is impossible with the traditional pen and paper method. Quizzes are also a great way to check if your student has grasped what you’ve taught them because they’ll know if they get an answer wrong right away!
Start implementing this educational game by using Sendsteps pre-made classreview template! This template ensures a presentation whereby your pupils can answers questions in real time through a mobile device.
Sheppard Software
Sheppard Software offers hundreds of free educational games that cover everything from their assigned subject area to their need for a fun, interactive educational break. The games are organized by subject, making it easy to find a game that fits.
Language Classroom Games
Tell me Five
This is an easy vocabulary review game in which you can determine the rules. Divide your students into groups and assign each group a category (e.g. summer). For example, they will have 20 seconds to come up with five things that belong to that category (e.g. summer: sunny, beach, vacation, summer break, sunscreen).
Using Sendsteps WordCloud tool will allow you to review the most popular answers as they appear largest on the screen. Furthermore, you save a lot of choas of students from sharing their answers at the same time.
Word Chain
A great game to test your students’ vocabulary.
Start off with a word like 'bee', then throw a ball to a student; they will have think of another word that starts with the last letter of the previous said word, e, like 'emerald'. The word chain will continue from one student to the next until one player is unable to say the next word, then the class will restart without that player.
For a more challenging game, prepare a theme for the game and require players to come up with words that fit that category. For example, if your theme is animal and the first word is dog, you could go with words like goat or goose. Be broad with the category, or this fast classroom game will get tough!
Education Board Games
Scrabble
One game that can help students learn spelling is Scrabble. Players draw tiles with letters on them and use them to create words on a board. The words must connect to other words already on the board.
Chess
Chess is a highly strategic game which requires a lot of mastery to win. The most terrific game to play to teach kids how to think ahead and solve problems.
Gamification in education is here to stay
With the growing popularity of games, it's clear that gamification in education is here to stay. And that's a good thing! Studies have shown that educational games can improve memory, increase focus, and even boost problem-solving skills. Don't let your students miss out on having fun while learning! Implement educational games today!
Anouk Baltus
Anouk’s passion for presenting started when she was very young: from voluntarily giving presentations in primary school to winning a speaking award with a self-written and presented speech. This adoration comes to life while working for Sendsteps. A passion for giving and writing speeches turned into writing blogposts about these subjects to help others find their passion in presenting.