Edutainment – learning through gaming

Education has been dominated by institutions that boast traditions that stretch back hundreds of years. They have often helped to shape the history and culture of the cities they are based in and their physical manifestations are still present in the urban landscape. However, the way the educational system was organized and institutionalized in the past, with geographical or time-related constraints, made it expensive and thus prevented countless people from accessing education. Nowadays, in this rapidly changing world, students need to learn different skills than in the past. Thanks to technology, they can also learn them in a different way.

New technologies are bringing about change in education allowing people to learn anywhere, anytime. And it is much more than a simple digital upgrade to stuffy old distance learning courses. Long has it been known that learning efficiency increases as more senses are involved. For example, only a little of what is read is actually retained; however, if learners are actively engaged, the process becomes significantly more effective. This multi-sense approach is often referred to as "gamification."

This trend in education is still growing and today's technology is making the systematic implementation of digital education easier than ever before. The idea behind gamifying the learning process is simple: The logic of a computer game, progression through levels, a sophisticated incentive and reward system, and a clear goal structure are applied to the content to be learned. Not only does this method promote retention of the material, but learning can be seamlessly integrated into modern life.

So why not squeeze in a couple of Spanish modules on the train home from work? How about getting to the next level of that engineering course over the weekend? All of this is possible with gamified education.