Strategic Steps for Game-Based Learning in India

Higher education in India is highly theoretical. As a result, many students decide to cancel their plans before completing their graduation. The education sector has introduced a new concept of game-based learning to help students overcome this problem.

In game-based eLearning, learners are encouraged to set goals and reach them while simultaneously having fun. In eLearning, game-based elements like points, levels, badges, and leader boards are adapted to provide instructional effects. Additionally, it also includes rules, goals, and objectives and can involve conflict, competition, and cooperation.

Another feature includes feedback. It is almost constant for game-based eLearning to receive feedback. Feedback can be provided in various forms to enhance game-based learning. Learning through formative feedback encourages learners to learn from their mistakes. The corrective feedback provides the student with guidance so he or she can carry out the right actions. Answers with explanations are acknowledged with their reasons for being correct or incorrect.

Why Game-Based Learning

Researchers have found that active learning enhances students' learning. Despite this, many higher education institutions still rely on passive teaching involving lectures and instructor-led activities.

Student engagement, attitude, and performance are improved by game-based learning in higher education.  The effectiveness of learning can be enhanced through game-based eLearning in several ways. Structures, purposes, motivation, spaced retrieval, and practice are some of them.

Framework and Purpose

The framework of game-based education is very simple. It includes techniques and strategies to help learners progress from their current level of knowledge or skill to the next level. Tips, checklists, clues, prompts, and dividing content into small units are all examples of tools for facilitating learning.

According to this definition, purpose includes three attributes: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Firstly, motivation comes from feeling in control and deciding the outcome of their actions. This is referred to as autonomy.

Secondly, people are motivated when they feel competent. Organize the content from easiest to most difficult. By doing so, a learner can build a sense of self-confidence as they gain experience with the more challenging material. A learner who follows this process will feel a sense of accomplishment and mastery. When it comes to game-based eLearning, the most effective design is one that keeps learners at the edge of competence. The difficulty of the content is just right for the learner to feel challenged but not so high that they feel unprepared.

As part of the third element, relatedness (or social connection), leaderboards and badges promote interaction among learners. During events, people want to share their experiences with others so they can reflect on their experiences, compare notes, and share insights.

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation

Extrinsic motivation refers to motivation that is derived from rewards outside of one's self. Intrinsic motivation is the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing a task without external rewards. It is essential to strike the right balance between these two motivational elements when developing game-based eLearning. You can provide both motivations to the learner and feedback on the quality of their work by using a point or reward system. Rewards or points will be extrinsic motivation, while feedback on performance will be intrinsic motivation. If you are attempting to motivate learners with tasks or activities that may not be of great interest or value to them, use extrinsic motivation a bit more heavily.

Motivate a participant with feedback, self-confidence, and a sense of accomplishment. Use elements of internal motivation, such as mastery, small successes, and a sense of accomplishment, when combined with external motivational elements, such as points, badges, and trophies. It is important to remember that different learners may approach the content differently. Depending on the individual, some may be intrinsically motivated, while others may be extrinsically motivated.

Strategies to Follow

Don't be afraid to start small. A game-based eLearning program doesn't have to be implemented all at once. As a starting point, incorporate digital interactive games to motivate students and review content. Adding your own content to premade games is more effective than using content that does not align with or focus on what your students need. This feature is included in multiple course development software available in the market.

Keep the difficulty level moderate. In order to achieve this, it may be necessary to design games that cater to students at different levels of knowledge while encouraging them to increase their knowledge. Creating a demonstration/learning level where a task is demonstrated is a three-level approach. Similar to the first level, the second level requires learners to complete the task with guidance, tips, and hints. Thirdly, students would complete the assignment on their own.

It is true that game-based education improves learning. Higher education students may benefit from game-based eLearning if it is used effectively to learn the skills they need in the workforce, stay engaged in their learning, and meet long-term goals. Take the plunge and create!

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