Gone are the days when the classic traditional model of education was considered an effective means of learning, when teaching was to be imparted through solemn theoretical practices and students were to learn them in equally serious ambience. Today teaching and learning process has undergone a drastic change with the introduction of the concept of learning through fun methods and incorporation of educational games in classroom teaching. These games seek to optimize on the innate nature of the child, whatever be the age, to love playing and introduce learning through a low-anxiety, interesting environment. The very logic behind introducing educational games for students at varied levels lie in the fact that long lectures tend to be mundane and boring, thus robbing the very purpose of grasping concepts which often become a difficult matter for those having short attention spans. Whether it is about teaching language or mathematical concepts educational games tend to impart teaching in a more proficient manner and results in more efficacious learning as well.

Benefits of Educational Games for Students

Variety: Introduction of educational games in classroom teaching does away with the stereotyped and stodgy methods of listening to lectures or writing assignments. It proffers a different method of grasping the same concepts through fun ways which helps in better retention and learning.

Hones Varied Skills: Teaching language through use of games help students hone the various skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening all of which are essential for building a strong foundation for flexible and good communicative abilities. Games encourage, motivate, entertain as well as teach language skills, helping even introvert students’ voice out their opinion without the fear of getting answers wrong.

Other Values: Apart from teaching concepts getting involved in games teaches students other values such as team building, waiting for their turns or even watching while others play the game.

Types of Educational Games

Educational games can take up varied forms such as Card and Board Games, Electronic Games, Team Building Activities and the likes. Card and board games can be brought into the classroom to teach concepts in a much more fun way and help students memorize and retain them better. Electronic games are another effective and one of the most popular medium of imparting education since children of all ages today are turning pros in handling and controlling electronic devices. Electronic games can be in the form of computer games as well as video games, things which students enjoy more than reading and which have great potential to help them grasp better if designed and introduced in the apt manner. Team building activities such as playing games in classrooms whereby the entire strength of students are divided into two or three groups boost values of team spirit, cooperation and communication. Field trips and excursions can also be used to design games that teach important educational concepts covering various subjects of the curriculum through real illustrations and audio-visual aids.