Teachers often struggle to make maths exciting in early learning, so some children can show a reluctance to engage in the subject from the start.
This is one of the reasons why gamified learning techniques are increasingly being used to spark interest and build pathways to engage in maths, particularly for younger minds.
Used the right way, gamified learning can enhance student focus, and provide the freedom for students to try, fail, and explore and discover.
By design, games quickly build a learner’s motivation to win – and this combined with mixing modes of delivery can bring some dynamic ways to expand your student’s learning potential.
For instance, by gamifying maths challenges in things like puzzles, students learn to engage competitively. Divide up a class into smaller groups, and the same game now incorporates social elements of learning like teamwork and communication which can boost their motivation and confidence while improving their problem-solving abilities.
Tips to introduce gamification learning
- Ensure the game is well-linked with learning objectives, or it will just be a distraction.
- Use it to complement other forms of active learning, rather than treating it as a break or replacement.
- Select educational games that feature a series of goals or progressions, clear rules, high interactivity, continual feedback, and some kind of reward. Rewards may also be given for showing determination and grit, as opposed to just getting the right answer.
- Make sure you or the teacher is familiar with the software and trained and supported as necessary.
To help simplify the process, experts at ORIGO Education have designed ZUPELZ, an interactive digital platform for young mathematics students aged from K-7.
The game is about building number sequences, helping students develop the logical thinking important to their sense of how numbers fit together. Tips are revealed to help guide students to think through each challenge. There are 600 games offered under a single annual subscription.