Learning games for collaborative schools

May 4, 2023

Learning games have the potential to transform schools. By harnessing the power of curiosity and co-learning, they can help students of all ages thrive in academics, social-emotional learning and readiness for careers and life.

For example, curiosity-driven learning games can provide students with the opportunity to explore new topics and ideas at their own pace. This type of play can encourage students to be more persistent in problem solving, as they are motivated by their own curiosity rather than external rewards.

Co-learning games, on the other hand, provide students with the opportunity to learn from and with their peers. This type of game play can promote social-emotional learning, as students learn to collaborate and communicate with others. Co-learning games can also help students develop life skills and career readiness skills, such as team-building, leadership, and project management.

When used correctly, learning games have the potential to improve student outcomes, including through:

• Encouraging interdependence and community-building: Rather than being taught to memorize multiplication tables by teachers, kids tomorrow could teach themselves, together, leveraging the natural curiosity for play that all children have.

• Alleviating the workload of educators: Rather than taking a top-down, instructional approach to teaching, learning games empower players to do their own work. This helps the teacher take a step back, observe the bigger picture, identify trends and act as learning coach.

• Encouraging curiosity and exploration: When students are given the opportunity to explore on their own and find their own way, they learn and retain lessons best. Learning games offer this opportunity in a safe, fun and stimulating environment.

• Enhancing problem-solving skills: Games that require players to think strategically, solve puzzles and overcome obstacles can enhance problem-solving skills. These skills are essential for success in academics, social-emotional learning and in life. Through exploration and trial-and-error, learning games can teach students how to think creatively and come up with new solutions to problems.

• Increasing motivation and engagement: Play helps students leverage their natural curiosity and desire to learn. By making learning fun, interactive and exploratory, we can engage students of all ages in ways that traditional instruction cannot.

• Preparing students for success in their careers and in life: Many of the skills required for success in college and career can be learned through play. Games that allow players to experiment, take risks and make mistakes in a safe environment can help students master these skills. This is particularly true for courses that teach real-life skills such as financial literacy, home economics, driver’s education and entrepreneurship.

Learning games have the potential to significantly improve school curricula and organizational culture, potentially transforming schools into less hierarchical, more collaborative institutions. By harnessing the power of curiosity and co-learning, they can help students of all ages thrive in academics, social-emotional learning, and in their careers. And by making learning fun, interactive, and exploratory, we can engage students in ways that traditional instruction cannot. With the right approach, learning games have the potential to enhance student outcomes and change the way we think about education.

CPM