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Blog Post 3: Game Based Learning Continued

Written: August 2nd 2024

Elden Ring & Education Cinematic Video

I have placed this video here because I wanted to have a spot on my website for it, and it relates to this theme the best!

League of Legends & Education Cinematic Video

Meanwhile this video is the new video that I created demonstrating a different genre of game. Below, I have created a video description and some key points of the video.

Video Description: This video explores the educational benefits of playing League of Legends (LoL). It highlights how the game fosters essential soft skills that can be applied in real-life scenarios. From enhancing communication and teamwork to developing problem-solving abilities and emotional intelligence, LoL offers a unique platform for personal and professional growth. Join us as we dive into the various ways this popular game contributes to education and skill development.

Key points covered in the video:

 
  • How League of Legends enhances communication skills through the swift and clear relay of critical information in gameplay
  • How League of Legends helps us understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration by leveraging individual strengths and covering weaknesses
  • How League of Legends aids in developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills through dynamic in-game scenarios and adapting strategies on the fly
  • How League of Legends molds players to become more resilient and adaptable by learning to bounce back from setbacks and continuously improve
  • How League of Legends fosters emotional intelligence and sportsmanship by managing emotions, maintaining composure under stress, and empathizing with teammates

Why Create Another Video?

There are a multitude of reasons why I selected to create another video over creating multiple blogs.

1. The Rigour of Content Creation

As it may come as no surprise, a video takes much more time to create than a blog post. This specific video took:

 
  • 4 hours of recording my own gameplay
  • 1 hour of finding other content produced by Riot Games
  • 3 hours of writing a script that maintained the right flow
  • 1 hour of recording the voiceover
  • 8 hours of editing 

Furthermore, my focus was on the top side of Bloom's Taxonomy. Blogging also falls under the "Create" section, but words can only take the reader so far. Having them watch almost exactly what I do in the game puts the "experience" in "learning experience." I can circle, place notes, and add pictures wherever I like to ensure that the viewer is fully engaged. As Derrida (1976) stated, "There is nothing outside of the text" (p. 158), emphasizing that context and experience are crucial to understanding.

2. The Lack of Game-Based Learning
 
An educator is fully aware that Game-Based Learning and Gamification are distinct. However, upon closer examination, one can realize how few Game-Based Learning options are available. In this context, I define Game-Based Learning as something truly immersive, featuring a strong story, in-depth character design, and an experience where the user is unaware they are learning until prompted. The number of games, especially video games with direct school curriculum content, is nearly nonexistent. This field has the potential to revolutionize how we view learning.

Game-Based Learning should be more than just educational content dressed in a game format. It should provide an engaging narrative and character development that captivates students' interest while seamlessly integrating educational objectives. The immersion in the game world allows students to apply knowledge and skills in a context that feels natural and meaningful. Such an approach not only enhances learning outcomes but also fosters a love for learning by making the process enjoyable and relevant. 

3. Enhanced Retention, Application of Knowledge and Accessibility
 
Broadly speaking, research has shown that learners retain information better when they can see and interact with the material in a dynamic way. Videos allow for the integration of visual and auditory elements, which can cater to various learning styles and preferences. This multimedia approach helps reinforce concepts and ensures that learners can see practical applications of theoretical knowledge.

By using videos, I can demonstrate complex gameplay strategies and decision-making processes in real-time, which would be challenging to convey through text alone. Viewers can pause, rewind, and rewatch sections to fully grasp the content, leading to a deeper understanding and making the content more accessible to them (Guo, Kim, & Rubin, 2014). Additionally, there is the potential to integrate interactive elements, such as quizzes or clickable annotations, which can further engage learners and test their comprehension (Zhang, Zhou, Briggs, & Nunamaker, 2006). In this context, I have not included those elements, but I generally do in other videos.

References:

Derrida, J. (1976). Of Grammatology (G. C. Spivak, Trans.). Johns Hopkins University Press.
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Guo, P. J., Kim, J., & Rubin, R. (2014). How video production affects student engagement: An empirical study of MOOC videos. Proceedings of the First ACM Conference on Learning @ Scale Conference (pp. 41-50). https://doi.org/10.1145/2556325.2566239

Zhang, D., Zhou, L., Briggs, R. O., & Nunamaker, J. F. (2006). Instructional video in e-learning: Assessing the impact of interactive video on learning effectiveness. Information & Management, 43(1), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2005.01.004

Bibliography:

Washington, B. (2019). Disruptive innovation in education. TeachHub.com. https://www.teachhub.com/classroom-management/2019/11/disruptive-innovation-in-education/

© 2024 by Roman Naghshi.

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