Benefits of Teaching Video Game Design to Students

At least once, we’ve had to laugh as an older relative lamented the amount of time kids spend playing video games.

They say, “Back in the day, I only had mud and my Flossie Flart Doll”. We sigh, ‘Yes, Grandma’.

Video games have an impact on children today fueling their imagination and keeping them engaged. They can improve hand-eye coordination, teach them teamwork, and problem-solving, and increase their confidence.

What about creating online gaming, instead of only playing them? What will Grandma think if she learns that computer gaming design can be used to educate students? 

This article is an overview of teaching learners to design video games as it benefits their cognitive behavior and sharpens their memory. 

Engage Students in the Classroom

Video games are a trendy entertainment form in the world in 2023.

66% of Americans claim to play online sports regularly. 93% of children from the UK also say that they play computer gaming for socialization and relaxation.

Teachers were only going to explore the effectiveness the electronic gaming industry could have in the classroom. And 77% of teachers poll reported in 2019 a higher level of student engagement.

They are so engrossed in their goal that they do not even realize they’re studying a very difficult subject.

THINGS TO CONSIDER
An interesting way to start a game design is to encourage students to reimagine one aspect of a trendy game and replace it with a unique character like a unicorn.  

Diversity and Inclusion

For years, gaming has been plagued by a lack of diversity with selective creative involvement. Companies have positioned computer gaming as toys for boys and made them an unwelcoming environment that is sometimes hostile to young girls.

Today, 48 percent of all US gamers are women. In 2022, there will be 38% female game developers – an increase of 9% from 2021. 

Girls are interested in online sports and want to be involved with everyone else. This is increasing with every passing year as we acknowledge and respect gaming without bias. Create inclusive and empowering spaces to encourage young women’s passion for coding.

Teaching Humanities Subjects

Some electronic sports are not for high scores, killings, or achieving objectives. They can help us learn about ourselves, history, and our place in this world.

• Art Academy for Nintendo DS helps beginners understand the basics of drawing, painting, and more.
• The story of Shadow of the Colossus explores the effects of unresolved grieving on both you and others around you.
• Brothers In Arms Road To Hill 30 is such a realistic recreation that footage from the 2005 History Channel Special featured the game.

Challenge your History students to create a sport that takes place in the late 1800s when they are sneering at the Victorian era. Making a playful activity that accurately portrays the Victorian age will require you to research and understand the period.

They will need to write dialogues, build worlds, and create a story as they develop their games. This is a great way for them to improve their creative writing abilities.

Teaching STEM Subjects

Your students will learn STEM skills no matter what kind of sport they make. It has many benefits by itself. 

As says the author from https://123homework.com/do-my-math-homework, STEM studies are captivating once you’ve felt them. They may also catch a bug in coding that will lead them to a full-time job.

Problem-Solving Skills Are Improved

Jay-Z sang in 2003 referring to his 99 problems. Would he have had less if he had been taught problem-solving techniques at an early age?

Problem-solving is a key skill in game design. Not everything you code works the first time.

Teachers find that the design of sports activities is a better way to solve problems than any other subject.

The learners are engaged in the problem-solving aspect of game programming. They also enjoy analytical thinking to add new features to their sport. 

Take a look at the graph below which clearly indicates that the game-based learning market size is set to grow exponentially in the coming years. The biggest reason is improved advanced technology infiltrating every industry including education. 

These statistics show the Game-Based Learning Market Size by Game Type from 2017-2027. 

Feedback and Failure: Managing Feedback

The ability to manage feedback and handle failure is a vital skill in the workplace. Some people may find them difficult to grasp, especially in an age where we are so accustomed to instant gratification.

Some learners may feel helpless when they receive low test scores. Others only hear the negatives of constructive feedback and not the positives.

Teachers have discovered that children who study game design see failure as an opportunity to learn: “Why is my character moving backward instead of forwards?” 

Why did my sound effect not trigger? What can I do to fix it or improve it? They feel more in control and more confident when they are making mistakes.

Encourage Creativity, Expression, And Individuality

You can play sports relating to anything you want: love, space exploration, microwaves, kestrels – whatever your interests.

You may have your students create a playful activity whose main goal is to simply be fun. The learners may tell a story about themselves or explore a passion or topic they could not otherwise.

You could challenge children to design a sport based on a specific theme such as life in a jar or superpowers that are inconvenient. Limiting their creativity forces them to be creative.

Great gaming activities are built on voice and choice: the confidence and autonomy to express yourself and the practical skills to make your creations come to life.

Young minds can find their voice through game development resulting in active participation in other subjects as well.

Develop Social Intelligence Skills

The key to a successful sport is collaboration and compromise. Your project will never succeed if you cannot communicate, empathize, or work with others well.

Children can learn the importance of social skills by taking courses in game design. They will be able to practice these life skills in a secure environment.

Building A Stronger Teacher-Student Relationship

In GameMaker’s 2019 educator survey, 90% of respondents said that teaching game design had a positive effect on their relationship with students.

Teachers should maintain a balance of discipline while creating a more open and comfortable communication environment. Sharing your passion for computer gaming with young minds will help you to become closer.

Studies have shown that learners who know they can rely on a teacher to support them and be relatable are more likely to express themselves in their work.

And hey, happy classes make your days at work a bit less stressful. It’s a win-win situation for the teachers, students, and the community.