Game-based Learning is a Time-Saving Tool for Teachers
To say that teachers are essential to society would be an understatement! Teachers help students uncover the mysteries of the world and learn the subjects that they need in order to follow their dreams! All of us at some point have had an influential teacher that has changed the way we think about the world.
Unfortunately, it's no secret that teachers often find themselves working far too many hours every week, and not just time spent teaching in the classroom! From lesson planning to grading papers, their workload can be overwhelming. According to this survey, teachers work an average of 54 hours a week! However, there is a silver lining: game-based learning. In fact, game-based learning can save teachers a lot of time, making their jobs a bit more manageable.
A Teacher's Workload
Teachers are dedicated professionals who pour their hearts and souls into their work. Unfortunately, this often means working well beyond 40 hours a week. Lesson planning, in particular, can be a particularly time-consuming task.Teachers that go above and beyond to make sure that all of their students are engaged have to spend even more time working on a lesson plan that can reach a lot of different minds! On top of that, there are assignments to review, homework and tests to grade, and day to day administration work. This is not even touching on time in the classroom, talking with students and parents, and extracurricular activities. It's no wonder that many teachers feel overwhelmed!
The Power of Game-Based Learning for Teachers
Game-based learning is learning that is done through play. Whether these are board games or online games, or anything in between, it is a way for students to learn and/or practice materials by playing games! Now, game-based learning may not be the solution to this complicated problem, but it can be a huge help! Here are some of the ways that game-based learning saves teachers time:
Ready-Made Resources
One of the biggest time-saving benefits of game-based learning is the availability of ready-made resources. Teachers can use a variety of educational games, online platforms, and digital tools designed for various subjects and learning objectives. With these resources at their fingertips, teachers can quickly find games that work for their curriculum and add them into their lessons.
Instant Feedback
Marking assignments, papers, and tests takes a lot of our teachers’ time. With game-based learning, however, assessment is already worked into the game. Since many educational games offer built-in feedback, teachers can assign a grade or track students progress by simply checking how they did with the game, whether it is a score, the level they got to, or other indicators. This also offers teachers alternative ways to check in with students, as not everyone learns or demonstrates their knowledge in the same way. In addition to these advantages, studies show that instant feedback helps students learn better, and can keep them more motivated. It’s a win-win!
Engaging and Self-Directed Learning
Game-based learning can help teachers engage students on a deeper level. When students are playing an entertaining educational game, they become active participants in their own learning journey. They develop a sense of ownership and take charge of their progress. When this happens, teachers can take a step back and guide students rather than delivering content. This shift allows teachers to save precious time, focus on making sure everyone is on the same page, and also makes for a student-centered approach to education.
Meeting Diverse Needs
In a diverse classroom, which is every classroom really, meeting the individual needs of students can be virtually impossible for one teacher. Game-based learning provides a solution by offering adaptive features that adjust the difficulty level based on each student's abilities. This personalized approach ensures that learners are appropriately challenged and supported, without placing an excessive burden on the teacher. It also gives an opportunity to evaluate students using something other than traditional methods, which doesn’t always properly demonstrate the knowledge of every student. In this way, teachers can reach more students in less time!
Conclusion
Game-based learning has amazing potential to save teachers time while also enhancing the learning experience for students. By utilizing ready-made resources, increasing engagement, providing instant feedback, and diversifying learning methods, teachers can lessen their workload and create a more dynamic and effective learning environment.
Though there is other work to be done in order to give teachers a more manageable workload, game-based learning is a great start! The YGBVERSE plans to be an entertaining and dynamic tool that teachers can use to reinforce STEM learning, helping kids to connect to subjects in new ways, and giving teachers a bit of a break.
Want to learn more about our mission? Check out this page, and support the dream by purchasing some awesome STEM swag from our shop!
