Gamification of Education: How Games Are Used in Educational Programs

Contents:

• Red Dead Redemption
• Assassin’s Creed
• Cities: Skylines
• Minecraft Education Edition
• Portal
• This War of Mine

Learning through play is possible and effective. Skillbox Media's Gamedev editorial team shares information about popular video games that are finding unexpected uses in education. In recent years, gaming technologies have been actively integrated into the educational process, making learning more engaging and interactive. A variety of game genres, from strategies to simulations, help develop critical thinking, teamwork, and creative skills. Using video games in education opens new horizons for students and teachers, promoting deeper learning and increasing motivation for learning.

This article presents video games that facilitate the study of various disciplines, including history, literature, mathematics, and urban studies. These games not only entertain but also educate, providing players with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the learning process through an interactive experience. They can be an effective tool for students and knowledge enthusiasts who want to deepen their knowledge in various fields.

Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar Games masterfully recreated the atmosphere of the Wild West of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in its Western series. The detailed elaboration of the world and historical events is so impressive that the University of Tennessee decided to include Red Dead Redemption 2 in the American history curriculum. Professor Tore Olsson shares on Twitter that he uses elements of the game to illustrate events in the United States from 1899 to 1911. This confirms that video games can serve as an effective tool in teaching and deepening knowledge of history.

The course HIUS 383: Red Dead America, named after the popular games from Rockstar, offers an in-depth study of the history of the frontier and its inhabitants. The curriculum examines settlers who explored new, unfamiliar territories, as well as various categories of criminals and representatives of Native American peoples. This course provides a unique opportunity to understand the complex interactions and cultural aspects that shaped society in the American West.

Red Dead Redemption 2 serves as a tool for exploring key aspects of capitalism and colonialism, as well as economic and racial inequality in the context of cosmopolitanism, which is an important part of American identity. The course also covers the analysis of the memory of the Civil War and the myths associated with this historical event, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of the influences that have shaped modern society and its values.

Red Dead Redemption 2 has found a place in educational programs beyond history. The game's developers achieved an outstanding level of environmental realism, which made it possible to use this action game to study the flora and fauna of the American West in the late 19th century. In their Western, Rockstar meticulously recreated nearly two hundred real-life animal species. A study conducted by the University of Exeter found that people who played Red Dead Redemption 2 demonstrated better abilities in identifying North American animal species compared to those who had not played the game. These findings highlight the educational potential of video games and their role in promoting environmental awareness.

In a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a focus group was asked to identify various animals based on their photographs. Participants who had played Red Dead Redemption 2 were able to correctly name an average of 10 out of 15 animals presented. This result is three times higher than those who had no experience with the game. These results highlight how video games can help develop animal recognition and memory skills, which is especially relevant for nature lovers and gamers.

In the action game, animals not only look realistic but also behave and interact with each other as they would in their natural habitat. For example, opossums can play dead, and eagles actively hunt snakes. This makes Red Dead Redemption 2 especially appealing to fans who have a keen interest in animal behavior and ecology in the game world. Realistic depictions of fauna and the dynamics of their interactions add depth to the gameplay and allow players to better understand the ecosystem in which they operate.

In its game series, Rockstar focuses on the problem of extinction Entire animal species are being destroyed by human destructive practices. Matthew Silk, one of the study's authors, shares his thoughts on a mechanic that vividly illustrates this problem. The company's games become a platform for discussing critical environmental issues, emphasizing the need to understand the impact of human activity on nature.

The game features a number of bird species that are rarer than others, and the Carolina parakeet is considered extinct. Hunting of these birds contributed to the extinction of the Carolina parakeet. Players who shoot it receive a warning that the species is endangered at the time of the game's events. If they continue to kill parrots, the species disappears from the game world. In this way, the developers emphasize the consequences of player actions, emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity.

Assassin's Creed

All Assassin's Creed games take place against the backdrop of meticulously recreated historical settings. That's why Ubisoft, the company behind this action series, decided to develop interactive tours. These tours provide the opportunity to delve deeper into various historical eras, examine ancient monuments in detail, and consult encyclopedic references containing important historical facts. This way, players can not only enjoy the gameplay but also immerse themselves in the study of history, making Assassin's Creed not only an engaging game but also a valuable educational tool.

Currently, three historical tours are available, based on the latest installments of the Assassin's Creed series. The tours allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of different eras: Ancient Egypt is featured in Assassin's Creed: Origins, Ancient Greece in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, and the lands of the Vikings in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Each tour can be completed separately from the main game and does not include combat or story missions. Instead, the emphasis is on exploring vast virtual locations and learning about historical facts. Tours are also enriched with commentary from historians, professors, and other experts, covering a variety of topics, such as art, architecture, philosophy, politics, and religion of the respective eras. This is a unique opportunity not only to enjoy the gameplay but also to learn more about human cultural heritage.

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla takes players to 9th-century Europe, immersing them in the lives of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. While exploring a vast virtual world, players will meet historical figures such as King Alfred of England and other key figures of the time. This game offers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the realities of medieval Europe, explore its culture, and interact with famous historical events.

The Assassin's Creed: Odyssey tour offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Ancient Greece. This tour will take you to architectural masterpieces like the Parthenon and interact with eminent philosophers, including Socrates and Pythagoras. It's not only entertaining but also an educational experience that allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history of one of humanity's greatest civilizations.

The Assassin's Creed: Origins tour takes you through Ptolemaic Egypt and explores the majestic pyramids. This interactive tour, which won the Best Educational Game and Players' Choice awards at the 2019 Games for Change Awards, offers a deeper understanding of Ancient Egypt's cultural heritage through a combination of entertainment and education.

Ubisoft has partnered with McGill University to create a series of guides for the interactive tours. These materials will help educators easily integrate interactive elements into educational programs, promoting more effective learning and student engagement.

Cities: Skylines

Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulator that offers players the opportunity to plan, build, and manage cities. Although there are no examples of the game being used in educational settings, a study conducted by researchers at Aalto University School of Engineering has identified its potential for educational purposes. The researchers emphasized that Cities: Skylines contains deep knowledge of urbanism and urban design, making it a valuable tool for studying urban planning processes and developing urban design skills.

In the game Cities: Skylines, it is important to take into account many nuances, among which the key one is the cost per square meter. This information is available on a separate map and depends on various factors, including accessibility to educational institutions, neighborhood safety, proximity to parks and recreation areas, number of public transportation stops, noise levels, and other aspects. A proper assessment of these indicators will help create a comfortable and efficient urban environment.

In Cities: Skylines allows players to create sophisticated traffic systems, significantly improving the city's transportation infrastructure. Efficient public transportation not only improves comfort for residents but also makes the city more attractive to tourists. Route development and traffic optimization are key aspects of successful city-building in the game.

Game demonstrates the importance of separating industrial and residential zones to optimize logistics and improve the quality of life for city residents. Creating efficient transport routes is a complex task, as widening roads and increasing the number of lanes often leads to increased traffic congestion. Congested traffic negatively affects both company profits and the efficiency of city services. To completely eliminate congestion, the player must carefully study the various types of interchanges and optimal traffic light settings.

In Cities: Skylines, the urban planning system is simplified and does not reflect the complex process of interaction between multiple participants and developers typical of real-life urban design. Nevertheless, the game provides a unique opportunity to study the city as a functioning system, which makes it useful for educational purposes. Thanks to the support of modifications, players can expand the functionality and add new elements, which contributes to a deeper understanding of urban planning processes.

Cities: Skylines, in its original version, does not fully meet the criteria of an educational game in the field of real estate and urban planning due to the lack of key aspects related to the urban planning process. For example, the game does not emphasize the specifics of land ownership. However, it should be noted that Cities: Skylines provides excellent opportunities for using modifications that can compensate for these shortcomings and add necessary elements to the gameplay. Mods significantly expand the game's functionality and allow players to study and apply various aspects of urban development more deeply and effectively. Cities: Skylines is an outstanding example of an urban system simulation, making it a suitable tool for educational purposes. However, due to certain serious shortcomings, it is recommended to use modifications to improve gameplay and enhance the educational value. These modifications can significantly expand the game's functionality, allowing for a more detailed study of urban planning and management. A group of scientists from the Aalto University School of Engineering is engaged in cutting-edge research and development in the fields of engineering and technology. They focus on innovative solutions that promote sustainable development and increased efficiency in various industries. The researchers' work covers a wide range of topics, including materials, mechanical engineering, electronics, and automation. Scientists actively publish their research results in leading scientific journals, which confirms the high level of their qualifications and the significance of their contribution to the scientific community. Aalto University is known for its interdisciplinary approach, which allows scientists to successfully collaborate with representatives of other fields of science and technology, creating new opportunities for innovation and practical application of their ideas.

Minecraft Education Edition

Minecraft is one of the most popular modern sandbox games, giving players the opportunity to build almost anything: from 1:1 scale architectural structures to unimaginable worlds and even functioning computer models. Originally possessing significant educational potential, the game was supplemented by a special platform – Minecraft Education Edition. This version of the game is fully focused on educational programs and uses interactive elements to explore various subjects, making the learning process more engaging and effective.

Minecraft Education Edition offers a unique educational opportunity, allowing classes to go on virtual tours of cities around the world or even travel to different historical eras. For example, to study American history, a Minecraft version of the classic text-based game Oregon Trail was created. This game helps students immerse themselves in the historical events and everyday life of the mid-19th century. Additionally, Minecraft features a recreation of the architecture of Renaissance Florence, providing a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of this period.

Virtual chemistry lessons allow students to explore molecules through visual structures built from blocks. The interactive learning format promotes a better understanding of chemical reactions and their mechanisms. While studying biology, children can take virtual journeys inside the human body, providing a deeper understanding of its functioning and the basic principles of operation.

Literature study is available in Minecraft. Immersed in the world of Macbeth, students can interact with a virtual version of William Shakespeare, the play's author. Selecting certain phrases in the dialogue opens links to essays about the play, promoting a deeper understanding of the text. Interacting with characters in the play reveals key lines, making the learning process interactive and significantly improving retention. Using game technology to study classic literature opens new horizons in the educational process.

Portal

Portal is known for its physics-based puzzles. However, not everyone is aware of the Teach with Portals program, which is designed to teach gravity, mathematical formulas, and geometry. The Foundry 10 educational initiative offers lessons in which teachers use game-based practices to deepen understanding. This program helps integrate gaming methods into the educational process, which makes learning more engaging and effective.

Portal is a game in which players must effectively place portals, exploiting level design features to solve spatial puzzles. In the "Broken Rooms" lesson, students are tasked with manipulating rooms containing design errors. Students must identify these errors and transform the room structure to make them functional for gameplay. This approach develops critical thinking and creative problem-solving in game design.

This War of Mine

The indie game This War of Mine has been included in the optional reading program for students aged 18 and older. This War of Mine is a unique work that explores military conflicts through the lens of civilian life. Players are asked to make difficult decisions for which they bear responsibility. This War of Mine helps develop empathy and critical thinking by showing how war affects the lives of ordinary people.

Games are actively used in the educational process to teach programming and science, as well as to develop cognitive, artistic, and musical skills. However, as an employee of the Polish Prime Minister's Office noted in an interview with Radio Krakow, no country in the world has incorporated games into the official school curriculum to convey meaningful stories. This highlights the uniqueness of Poland's approach to integrating gaming elements into the educational system, which can contribute to a deeper understanding of the material and increase students' interest in the learning process.

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An Unusual Practice: The Purpose of Game Development for Humanities Students

Game development is becoming an increasingly popular practice among humanities students. Faculty use this method to develop students' creative skills and critical thinking. The process of creating games requires a deep understanding of narratives, user psychology, and audience interaction, which is an ideal fit for the humanities.

Using game design in the classroom allows students to better absorb the material and apply theoretical knowledge in practice. Students learn to work in a team, develop project management skills, and learn to adapt to change, which are important qualities in the modern world. By working on game creation, they also get the opportunity to explore social and cultural themes, making the learning process more engaging and meaningful.

Furthermore, game development helps humanities students master digital skills, which are becoming increasingly important in various fields. Thus, the integration of gaming elements into the educational process not only promotes creativity, but also prepares students for the challenges of the modern labor market.