Education is a flexible yet inviolable institution that should be ready to welcome new technologies that have developed into something more important than just a trend. These days, those involved in developing new materials and establishing norms and regulations in the sphere of education ponder the most efficient ways of learning new things and acquiring new skills, and games with location-tracking features seem like a wise option.
Location tracking opportunities, that can track phone number and identify one’s location, may be introduced in the realm of studies, where getting into the context in the gamified way right from the classroom is vital. Let us then see how location tracking may improve educational games and offer students a new perspective, overly important yet extremely captivating.
What Do Location-Based Educational Games Mean and What Are Their Types?
Although the concept of location-based educational games is relatively new, scientists in this sphere have developed a notion and a firm theoretical foundation that explore and define what they actually mean and how to set a path for future developments in particular. As such, LBEGs make use of real-world settings to produce interesting and informative experiences taking into consideration the age of a recipient and their skills.
Through the integration of digital technology, physical movement, and exploration, these games deliver an immersive learning experience, for these leverage the users' actual position, which is frequently monitored by GPS, to start challenges, delve into educational content, or interact with real-world scenarios. This, however, greatly depends on the type of game and the way one is supposed to interact with the educational content.
AR (Augmented Reality) games, for instance, add interactive features to the real world as they superimpose digital information for gamers to observe and interact with digital items or information projected on their surroundings with the use of AR glasses or their smartphones. Examples may include significant historical tours where participants see historical facts or recreations overlaid on present settings. What a miracle!
Besides, there exist educational scavenger hunts that ask participants to track particular objects or figure out clues in a predetermined region with the objective of involving students in experiential learning through problem-solving and investigation. These hunts can be easily customized to cover a variety of curriculum areas, e.g., biology (to determine different plant species in a park), history (to locate historical sites and understand their significance), and the like.
Moreover, one should not neglect location-based quizzes and challenges, where players go to certain locations to finish tasks or find answers about the area. In a history-based game, for example, players might visit various historical locations in a city and respond to questions regarding the significance of each location.
Benefits of Location-Based Educational Games
Indeed, as a new advancement in the sphere of educational gaming, location trackers do offer numerous benefits and enhance traditional learning methods, for they extensively integrate physical activity, real-world exploration, and interactive digital elements. So, why else can LBEGs improve ed-contexts?
Enhanced Engagement and Motivation: The first and foremost advantage lies in the fact that learning becomes an interactive adventure with the use of LBEGs, which increases student engagement. The combination of digital interaction and physical activity may successfully capture the student's attention. It works far more effectively than any other conventional classroom-based approach.
Contextual Learning: Through the integration of educational content into authentic settings, LBEGs provide a more profound perception of the subject matter. Thus, students are able to connect theory to real-world application when they learn in relevant contexts and understand how our world works in general.
Development of Problem-Solving Skills: These exercises improve their ability to think critically and solve problems more efficiently. In order to create an interactive classroom environment that promotes resilience and flexibility, students must assess their surroundings, look for clues, and formulate strategies.
Collaboration and Social Interactions: A lot of LBEGs are meant to be played in groups, which is to encourage social interaction and teamwork not to mention. Collaboration so as to accomplish common goals supports the development of learners' interpersonal and collaborative skills. Always remember that the social aspect of education does matter.
The Best Practices for Implementing LBGs in Education
All in all, the process of integrating location-based technologies into an educational routine is a complicated task, for it should harmoniously align with the main goals of a program and be suitable for a class as well. Let us see what one can do so as to implement LBGs safely.
Comply with Educational Objectives.
Make sure that the challenges and activities in the game are properly related to the learning objectives and syllabus. The game's design and execution should be guided by specific instructional objectives and never interfere with the program's outline.
Choose an Appropriate Technology.
Choose reliable and user-friendly technology that is appropriate for the intended audience, such as GPS units or mobile apps. Always remember that working with children is a responsible process, this is why the choice should be wise and fulfilling.
Test and Pilot.
To find and fix bugs (when possible), make sure the game is engaging enough, confirm that it satisfies learning goals, and run pilot tests in the end. Before implementing on a large scale, get feedback from independent participants to check the reliability of a platform.
Promote Collaboration.
Create gaming activities that encourage kids to communicate and operate as a team. Tasks that need collaboration can improve learning objectives and increase enjoyment.
Ensure the Safety and Privacy of Those Involved.
Give participants' privacy and safety a priority. Obtain the required permissions, follow data protection laws, and make sure that game activities take place in secure settings only.