What is game-based learning?

To put it simply, game-based learning is a process of learning new things through games. What GBL means is that games aren’t treated just as rewards for enduring a boring and tedious study session — the game itself is designed in a way to ensure that the kid learns by playing it, which is a much more captivating alternative. 

As for the games, there are all kinds of them: vocabulary-building games, interactive role-playing scenarios, and genuine videogames available on online English learning platforms like Novakid. Nowadays, game-based learning is becoming more and more popular due to its effectiveness and the fact that it helps reduce stress significantly, and even encourages young learners to practice on their own outside of classes.

Why it works

The idea behind gamification is very intuitive: games are specifically designed to activate dopamine release when you achieve a certain goal, and that helps with increasing motivation and attention. They also encourage repetition through engagement: kids are much more willing to repeat tasks in games due to instant feedback and various gratification methods, and that ensures deeper learning. 

Focusing on achieving a goal in a game is much easier than focusing on studying — tricking a kid’s brain into learning by making it part of a broader game is a much more effective long-term approach than forcing them to study through boredom, and that is doubly true for pupils with shorter attention spans. 

Finally, games create a positive emotional connection to the learning process, which is incredibly helpful with younger learners who cannot truly appreciate the long-term benefits of their studies yet. When the process is fun on its own, it doesn’t need to be justified with a vague promise of being helpful in the future.

Building core language skills

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When implemented correctly and fully, GBL supports all four main language skills.

• Reading: story-driven games expose kids to vocabulary and its use in context, which enables them to quickly grasp concepts and understand the correct way to use words.
• Listening: most games include dialogue, instructions, and storytelling, helping kids learn the way words are pronounced.
• Speaking: a huge part of interactive games requires verbal responses or mimicking real-life conversations, meaning that kids have to learn how to talk in order to play them.
• Writing: word puzzles, typing challenges, or creative prompts are great when it comes to encouraging composition.

How games keep learners motivated 

Another great feature of games is that they help reduce the fear of making mistakes — one of the most common barriers in language learning. They also keep young learners motivated at all times through clever use of levels, points, and achievements. These little features create a clear sense of progress instead of a much more vague and unintuitive general progress through a set of lessons. 

Some kids enjoy competition, and games are amazing at providing a sense of fulfillment, even if it’s just beating your own score. Games are also unparalleled when it comes to the sense of control and autonomy — a lot of the time, learners get to choose activities and pace, which increases motivation.

Overall, games are one step ahead of most other learning methods because of their unique support of intrinsic motivation — it is much easier to make a kid study by making it enjoyable than by using grades or pressure. When a kid starts logging in daily because they are excited to complete a new quest, you know they are on the right path to eventually mastering the class.