Game on: Leveraging the psychological principles of video games can enhance learning. - 123rf.com
Have you, as teachers, lecturers or even parents, ever wondered why our students are so engrossed in video games? Contrary to what most older folks think, video games are no longer just a pastime.
Video games are now fast becoming a part of our modern-day entertainment culture; they are a constant, visceral, in-your-face form of entertainment and a powerful tool that taps deep into the psychological needs of the younger generation. Here’s why:
> A sense of validation
We tend to gravitate towards positive experiences. When our children were toddlers, they were rewarded with words of affirmation and encouragement whenever they did something correctly, and that created a sense of accomplishment.
As they grew older, that affirmation and sense of growth may not be as forthcoming, especially for students who may not be very successful academically or in sports.
For these young people, every reward, badge and level unlocked in a video game reinforces their sense of accomplishment.
> Experiencing pleasure
We crave instant gratification and seek pleasure because it makes us feel good. Our brains are wired to seek out positive and pleasant experiences. Some people derive pleasure from golf, others from eating, and still others from watching movies. Playing games is just one of the many forms of experiencing pleasure.
> Social connections
Humans have a natural desire and tendency to form relationships. While life-of-the-party extroverts can make friends with a houseplant, introverts, who see socialising as an extreme sport, find it a challenge.
Nonetheless, even the most introverted person would like some form of human connection, albeit in smaller doses and in a controlled environment.
Video games provide a space for introverts to build friendships without the pressure of face-to-face interaction.
For younger generations especially, video games serve as a crucial space for socialisation.
Where traditional social structures like schools or sports may not provide the sense of belonging they seek, online gaming communities allow players to interact with like-minded individuals.
So, if your children have other avenues to fulfil the basic desires for experiencing growth, pleasure and social connections, video games may not appeal to them.
Those who struggle in academic pursuits, relationships, sports or interacting with others, however, may find video games a great way to express themselves.
But how do we get them off video games and encourage them to hit the books or pay more attention in class?
There are lessons educationists can take away from the design of video games.
If you are thinking about gamification, then you are somewhat mistaken.
Gamification is an extrinsic form of gaming that involves reward mechanisms or motivators designed to provide external validation or incentives.
The oversimplified belief that the concepts and principles of video games can make lessons more engaging is flawed.
It is the intrinsic aspects of video games – namely, what makes the entire play experience engaging and motivating to players – that make learning effective.
One of the main reasons why video games are so successful is that they provide a step-by-step learning curve that rewards gamers as they progress. Players experience growth by conquering challenges at their own pace, reinforcing feelings of competence and self-worth.
Instead of relying solely on traditional gamification tools and principles, it would be more effective to incorporate intrinsic video game elements into the subjects or learning activities you want students to engage with.
Incorporating these elements from video games into education is not about turning every lesson into a video game or simply adding video game features to the learning process.
Rather, it is about leveraging the psychological principles that make games so captivating.
By building a learning environment where students experience growth, autonomy, mastery and social connection, educators can create experiences that feel just as engaging and rewarding as a well-designed video game.
Assoc Prof Dr Tan Chin Ike leads the School of Computing at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU). He has over 25 years of experience across the digital content and game development sectors, and in 2012, he established MyGameDev (EPP14), a strategic video game talent development initiative under the Economic Transformation Programme. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
