Although it has always been known that games can actually help in learning, it is only now that many professionals start to use game-based techniques to make the process easier and more fun. When it comes to learning, there are now many sources that can actually help students, review one of them you can read about how students can pay for a research paper. The other important technique that becomes more popular is actually incorporating online and offline games into the learning process.
Why Play-Based Learning is More Beneficial for Kids
The classic education was based on memorizing facts more than introducing them in real life practice. Several recent studies have proven that plays are actually much more beneficial to use in a class, especially when it comes to early years. Play promotes actual interest and internal motivation and creates a positive experience among participants.
The theory of play-based learning has three types of plays that can be used in a class. One of them is a play initiated by kids themselves, the second type is a teacher-initiated and controlled play, and there is also a mixed type – a play that is both controlled by a teacher and students.
A play is a way to create a safe environment for kids and to make learning more fun and practical. It can be both online and offline experience, endorsing communication skills, problem-solving and memorizing things. In the early years, kids have some issues when it comes to sitting through the classic lesson, and they can get discouraged when they feel like failures. However, when it comes to games and play, the natural interest provides them with the motivation to continue. It also allows creating real-life circumstances, helps to learn about social roles and behaviors.
Why Minecraft is Great for Children with Autism
Children who are on an Autism spectrum experience difficulties with social interactions and repetitive behaviors. It is generally harder for them to follow the traditional education, that’s; why a play-based system is better for them.
Minecraft is one of the most popular games all over the world, since its release in 2009 it has always been a great place both for the kids and adults. It is a complex game that creates an environment for building almost anything, creating your own world. It might seem very easy; however, it is not, and the possibilities it gives to a gamer are endless. Some people try to describe it as an online Lego, but it has much more to that, for example, it allows communication between games and other interactions.
It is very useful children with autism as it simplifies social interactions, instead of face-to-face communication, they use chats. To create a particular task it is required to cooperate with others in a fun way, that’s why students with autism show an increase in their social skills.
Minecraft also allows creating a real-life environment, like school, supermarket or any other place. Now students can travel around without stress and anxiety. It also promotes future interaction with the same environment in real life without additional efforts.
This game is great in self-regulation learning and bringing self-awareness. The creativity is endless and helps to understand the basics of how the world is built through simplifying it to boxes. Students choose the materials, colors and it endorses critical thinking and planning. It develops design skills and helps to learn cooperation. A teacher can also develop particular challenges and circumstances to help students in learning particular skills. For instance, they can recreate a scene from a book or movie, use only sustainable materials or have a budget to solve the economic challenge. So what Minecraft endorses in children’s learning?
• It helps with learning social interactions and provides a safe communication environment;
• It helps to learn through visual and verbal memory;
• Boosts creativity and allows creating special tasks and learning sceneries;
• It helps to memorize dates and times;
• Provides good comprehension of the real world;
• It helps to regulate self-control and brings self-awareness;
• Endorses planning and organizational skills;
• Allows both children and adults to have partial control over the game;
• Provides the ability to map one’s world;
• Motivates to exploration, creates a positive learning experience.
The flexibility of this game is enormous. That’s why it can be used to a wide variety of purposes. The general advantage of it is that students actually like it and are interested in participation. Education should not be a hard and stressing experience as there are other methods to engage children in the process.
How to Incorporate Minecraft in the Educational Process
It is pretty simple, as the positive effects of this game have been stated by both professionals and scientists. There are guides and TED lectures on how to do it. A teacher can create a small server that is available for students of his class. This is a great way to make it a safe experience and get students really engaged. Now they can all together create a world of their own design.
Anothercool opportunity is Autcraft – a separate server created by Minecraft for children and adults with autism. So if you have a PC version of the game, you can simply apply to get access to it. The great thing about this server is that the bullying, swearing and any kind of negative behaviors are strictly prohibited there. It is controlled and regulated by adults on the autism spectrum and the members of families with people with autism, so it is a nice and welcoming community.
