How can game-based learning be enhanced with technology?

2 Game delivery platforms

Another way that technology can enhance game-based learning is by providing platforms for delivering and accessing games. There are different types of platforms that can support game-based learning, such as web browsers, mobile devices, consoles, virtual reality, and augmented reality. These platforms can offer different affordances and challenges for game-based learning, such as interactivity, immersion, mobility, and accessibility. For example, web browsers can enable learners to play games online from anywhere, mobile devices can allow learners to play games on the go and use features like GPS and camera, consoles can offer high-quality graphics and sound, virtual reality can create immersive and realistic environments, and augmented reality can overlay digital elements on the physical world.

3 Game assessment tools

A third way that technology can enhance game-based learning is by providing tools for assessing and evaluating games. There are various methods and tools that can help educators and learners measure the effectiveness and impact of game-based learning, such as quizzes, surveys, badges, leaderboards, portfolios, and analytics. These tools can help collect and analyze data on learners' performance, progress, behavior, and feedback during and after playing games. Moreover, these tools can help provide formative and summative feedback to learners and educators, as well as inform the design and improvement of games and learning outcomes.

4 Game feedback systems

A fourth way that technology can enhance game-based learning is by providing systems for giving and receiving feedback. Feedback is an essential component of game-based learning, as it can help learners improve their skills and knowledge, as well as motivate them and enhance their engagement. Technology can enable various types of feedback in game-based learning, such as intrinsic, extrinsic, immediate, delayed, positive, negative, verbal, non-verbal, human, and artificial. For example, technology can enable intrinsic feedback through game mechanics, such as points, levels, and rewards, extrinsic feedback through external sources, such as peers, mentors, and experts, immediate feedback through real-time responses, such as sounds and animations, delayed feedback through post-game reports, such as scores and graphs, positive feedback through praise and encouragement, such as compliments and emojis, negative feedback through criticism and correction, such as errors and hints, verbal feedback through words and sentences, such as text and voice, non-verbal feedback through gestures and expressions, such as icons and faces, human feedback through social interactions, such as chat and video, and artificial feedback through automated systems, such as bots and AI.

5 Game personalization systems

A fifth way that technology can enhance game-based learning is by providing systems for personalizing and adapting games. Personalization and adaptation are important features of game-based learning, as they can help learners learn at their own pace, level, and style, as well as increase their interest and satisfaction. Technology can enable various types of personalization and adaptation in game-based learning, such as content, difficulty, pace, sequence, feedback, and interface. For example, technology can enable content personalization by selecting and presenting game elements that match learners' preferences, interests, and goals, difficulty personalization by adjusting and balancing game challenges that suit learners' abilities and skills, pace personalization by allowing learners to control and regulate the speed and duration of game play, sequence personalization by organizing and ordering game activities that follow learners' paths and choices, feedback personalization by providing and customizing feedback that meets learners' needs and expectations, and interface personalization by modifying and optimizing the game appearance and functionality that fit learners' devices and settings.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?