Instructional Game

What is Instructional Game?

Instructional games are software developed to motivate students' learning through competition and student developed games

Purpose
The goal of each student practice strategy in this program is to provide students who have learning problems multiple opportunities to respond to a particular learning task. This is certainly true for Instructional Games as well. Instructional Games can also make practicing math skills fun due to its game format.

Instructional Game in the classroom:

Students learn through the process of playing the game. 

By playing a game, students may be able to understand a new concept or idea,

take on a different perspective, or experiment with different options or variables. 

Through games, students can learn a variety of important skills. There are countless skills that students can develop through game playing such as critical thinking skills, creativity, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. 

Games grab students’ attention and actively engage them. Because students really enjoy playing games, it is a good way to focus their attention and actively.

Disadvantages and Benefits

of Instructional Games

Educational games played using the Internet, computer or television can help children learn about spelling, math, reading and other subjects. They may also increase students' interest in school. But even though they're helpful, educational games can have disadvantages, affecting students both mentally and physically. It's best to use educational games as a supplement. Reduce time spent playing these games by having children study or play outside.

 Physical Strain

It's easy for children to feel addicted to computer and online games, and they will sit in a certain spot for hours on end playing them. This long-term use can result in neck aches, back aches, repetitive strain injuries, eyestrain, headaches, fatigue and mood swings

Mental Effects

Educational games can affect children mentally. For instance, children may want to play until they win or advance in the game. According to studies done at Newman University College in Birmingham, England, this determination can cause low self-esteem or aggressive behaviour, especially if children keep losing at the game. Additionally, because these games can become so addicting, overuse can cause social isolation and poor social skills. It's important for your child to interact with the world around him and spend time with his friends and family.

Wasted Time

Educational games can also be a major time-waster, taking away from time that your child could spend studying, being active or participating in social events. Enforce rules with your child about gaming. Let him know that he needs to finish his homework or studying before playing any games, including educational games. Set time limits for playing educational games, to prevent him from wasting time.

Negative Behaviors

If a game requires children to "shoot" at objects or people, it may encourage violence. Your child may want to copy some of these behaviours with friends or family members. Before giving your child an educational game, investigate its content. If something within the game is objectionable, you can either prevent your child from playing it, or talk about the game beforehand. Let your child know that it's only fantasy, and that she shouldn't demonstrate these acts in real life.

Benefits of Instructional Games

1.Increases A Child’s Memory Capacity

  Games often revolve around the utilization of memorization  This not only relates to games whereby children have to remember aspects in order to solve the game, memorize critical sequences, or track narrative elements.

2. Computer & Simulation Fluency

  This is something which is very important because we live in a world which is dominated by technology. Playing on games via the internet allows children the license to get used to how a computer works and thus it becomes second nature to them. There are websites, such as Cartoon Network games, which provide young children with fun and exciting games which also teach them to utilize the mouse and keyboard properly, not to mention browsing, username and passwords, and general internet navigation.

3. Helps With Fast Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving

  Most games require children to think quickly. Moreover, they have to utilize their logic in order to think three steps ahead in order to solve problems and complete levels. This is great because it is something which helps children in later life as they develop their logic, their accuracy and their ability to think on their feet and outside of the box. 

5 Game Elements That Create Effective Learning Games

There are features included in games that help immerse us in the play experience. If the game is being designed for commercial purposes, the sole aim is to come up with game mechanics that are fun and game elements that are intriguing. But when trying to design effective learning games, game mechanics and game elements that are utilized have to complement the learning goals.

Conflict.For a game to be interesting, there should be some sort of conflict to present a challenge for the player to overcome.

Strategy and chance.Strategy-based games put a lot of control into the players’ hands in the form of decisions they can make that affect game play or their odds of achieving the goal. 

Aesthetics.Most seasoned game developers would agree that aesthetics consistently rate as an area of high appeal. By themselves, aesthetics have the power to pull people into the game. 

Theme and story.A theme can add interest and create engagement within a learning game. The theme can be conveyed with the visuals and with a brief “back story” that is included in the rules. 

Rewards.Rewards are things or keepsakes that players earn through game play. The new wave in learning games and in gamification of learning is to give players achievements for accomplishing certain tasks or hitting certain milestones.

Sample of  Instructional Games

(via video)

Sources: 

http://fcit.usf.edu/mathvids/strategies/ig.html#elements

https://elearningindustry.com/5-game-elements-create-effective-learning-games

http://www.teachthought.com/the-future-of-learning/technology/6-basic-benefits-of-game-based-learning/

http://www.ehow.com/list_6569922_disadvantages-using-games-learning-tool.html

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reasons-to-play-games-in-the-classroom.shtml