When I first heard about using games in education, I was excited because, growing up in grades K-8, I used games like cool math or PBS Kids to help me pass the time after finishing an assignment, and I assumed that here are games you can have your students play, but I was wrong. When you look further, there is more to games than just passing the time. Games in Education, also known as "Game Based Learning (GBL)," is a type of learning activity that we as educators can use to help us teach our students even more effectively, such as an interactive video or a live action story book.

Yes, Game Based Learning appears to be a great idea, but how does it benefit? That was the first question I had when I discovered the true definition of GBL, what type of benefits does it have and is it effective, what are the ups and downs, etc. My  Intro to Technology in Education class teacher explained it well: yes, you can stand all day teaching the subject or topic, etc., but keeping students engaged is difficult. Remember that each student acquires knowledge in a different way, and as educators, we must ensure that our lessons are taught in a variety of ways.

GBL does not have to be technology-based games; it can be as simple as creating a board game on the topic and having the game break down the questions without the students realizing they are learning until they are finished playing. Or an interactive video that allows them to answer questions as a group when the video pauses. I discovered that it benefits not only students but also teachers because it allows us to engage with our students in the lessons and adds a fun twist to teaching rather than simply writing on the board and moving on.

Here's a great example of a video with visuals, a narrator, and more information about GBL and its benefits (note: this would be considered a learning-based game!).

I did give some examples of GBL, but how do you know if they are GBL? When learning more about the benefits of GBL, it was assumed that any game you create, whether using a gameboard or an online one, can be considered if the student is learning and gaining new information from the activity. Those assumptions were correct! GBL can be any game, from role playing or theater to using Kahoot, but changing it to the subject that you are teaching, for example,Jeopardy, if the questions relating to the subject are changed, the students are learning and interacting! "Game-based learning refers to the borrowing of certain gaming principles and applying them to real-life settings to engage users" (Under construction - Awesome site in the making!, n.d.)

Overall, Game-Based Learning and incorporating games into education courses is a journey that I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about and incorporate into my future classrooms. Game-Based Learning is a method for increasing classroom engagement, friendly competition, an easier way to learn topics, and even selecting games that your students are familiar with and making it a place where they can learn.  I recommend incorporating games into your classroom; learning the various types of games available, whether online or in person, is a great way for relationships to grow and knowledge to be gained. With more knowledge and ideas being shared, it is hoped that game-based learning will become more popular.