Benefits of Using Board Games to Learn in Classrooms
Benefits of Using Board Games to Learn in Classrooms
by Stock Shock
Nov 16, 2024
3 Min
The Benefits of Board Games in Classrooms
Once seen primarily as entertainment, board games are now proving to be important teaching tools in classrooms, promoting learning and skill-building. They present challenges that allow students to learn, grow, and socialize with peers, making them a beneficial addition that educational institutions can use to help build skills useful inside and beyond the classroom. According to Board Games in the CLIL Classroom, the top 3 benefits that board games provide are interactive learning, skill development, and gaining valuable life lessons.
Interactive Learning Environment
Based on the principles of “Game-Based Learning and Teaching Theory” (GBLTT), one of the primary benefits derived from playing board games in the classroom is that it encourages students to learn interactively. As board games allow students to cooperate and compete, they also provide an excellent opportunity for students to be fully present and, therefore understand and retain the course content more effectively. In fact, many researchers mentioned, "video and board games are often a decent solution for the teacher to create more active and creative learning activities" (Estrada et al. 2024; Hur & Suh, 2012; Huyen & Nga, 2003; Karasimos & Zorbas, 2020; Nautiyal, Silverio & Eunice, 2024; Tokarchuk, Salomatova & Gavrilova 2024; Young & Wang, 2014).
Developing Cognitive Skills
Another benefit of using board games in the classrooms is that they boost skill development regardless of age since most games require concentration and observation. When students pay attention to the details of a game, they develop skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, memorization, and analysis while learning course content, and depending on the type of game, students would be involved with quick decision-making depending on unfolding events (Foreman 2003, p. 16). Furthermore, board games enable students to become creative, where they try to find various solutions and alternatives. Students develop their analytical thinking and memory when remembering previous moves and predicting each move's outcome. These cognitive benefits bring a passion for learning and make education active and cooperative rather than passive, adding further importance to board games in any classroom.
Learning Life Lessons
In addition to interactive learning and skill development, board games teach life lessons that extend beyond academics, like taking risks. Students will learn to make bold moves, try different tactics, and understand what it feels like to 'lose' in a safe environment. This pushes students to practice a growth mindset by looking at mistakes not as failures, but as important opportunities for learning and development (Martinson & Chu, 2008, p. 484). Additionally, playing games introduces beneficial values such as sportsmanship and adherence to rules. Students learn how to win and lose, recognizing that winning isn’t always the priority, and that fair play is important. Many board games also encourage social interactions among students through the practice of sharing, bargaining, and managing conflicts in a constructive manner. More importantly, the combination of strategy and luck teaches the students to be flexible, as they learn that while one can strategize, being able to bounce back in case of any event that does not go as planned sometimes makes all the difference.
Using Stock Shock in Classrooms
Board games have demonstrated their effectiveness as a useful resource in classrooms for interactive learning, skill development, and life lessons. Stock Shock has successfully provided these benefits in classrooms across Ontario to improve financial literacy.
Stock Shock introduces students to investment and stock market trends by simplifying complex financial concepts into practical knowledge through a fun, educational tabletop game. We have set up educators for success by coupling the game with a set of educational resources, including lesson plans, teaching slides, quizzes, and tests, all designed to support Stock Shock's goal of preparing students with basic financial literacy knowledge in preparation for the upcoming mandatory Financial Literacy Test for Grade 10s.
Source:
The Benefits of Board Games in Classrooms
Once seen primarily as entertainment, board games are now proving to be important teaching tools in classrooms, promoting learning and skill-building. They present challenges that allow students to learn, grow, and socialize with peers, making them a beneficial addition that educational institutions can use to help build skills useful inside and beyond the classroom. According to Board Games in the CLIL Classroom, the top 3 benefits that board games provide are interactive learning, skill development, and gaining valuable life lessons.
Interactive Learning Environment
Based on the principles of “Game-Based Learning and Teaching Theory” (GBLTT), one of the primary benefits derived from playing board games in the classroom is that it encourages students to learn interactively. As board games allow students to cooperate and compete, they also provide an excellent opportunity for students to be fully present and, therefore understand and retain the course content more effectively. In fact, many researchers mentioned, "video and board games are often a decent solution for the teacher to create more active and creative learning activities" (Estrada et al. 2024; Hur & Suh, 2012; Huyen & Nga, 2003; Karasimos & Zorbas, 2020; Nautiyal, Silverio & Eunice, 2024; Tokarchuk, Salomatova & Gavrilova 2024; Young & Wang, 2014).
Developing Cognitive Skills
Another benefit of using board games in the classrooms is that they boost skill development regardless of age since most games require concentration and observation. When students pay attention to the details of a game, they develop skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, memorization, and analysis while learning course content, and depending on the type of game, students would be involved with quick decision-making depending on unfolding events (Foreman 2003, p. 16). Furthermore, board games enable students to become creative, where they try to find various solutions and alternatives. Students develop their analytical thinking and memory when remembering previous moves and predicting each move's outcome. These cognitive benefits bring a passion for learning and make education active and cooperative rather than passive, adding further importance to board games in any classroom.
Learning Life Lessons
In addition to interactive learning and skill development, board games teach life lessons that extend beyond academics, like taking risks. Students will learn to make bold moves, try different tactics, and understand what it feels like to 'lose' in a safe environment. This pushes students to practice a growth mindset by looking at mistakes not as failures, but as important opportunities for learning and development (Martinson & Chu, 2008, p. 484). Additionally, playing games introduces beneficial values such as sportsmanship and adherence to rules. Students learn how to win and lose, recognizing that winning isn’t always the priority, and that fair play is important. Many board games also encourage social interactions among students through the practice of sharing, bargaining, and managing conflicts in a constructive manner. More importantly, the combination of strategy and luck teaches the students to be flexible, as they learn that while one can strategize, being able to bounce back in case of any event that does not go as planned sometimes makes all the difference.
Using Stock Shock in Classrooms
Board games have demonstrated their effectiveness as a useful resource in classrooms for interactive learning, skill development, and life lessons. Stock Shock has successfully provided these benefits in classrooms across Ontario to improve financial literacy.
Stock Shock introduces students to investment and stock market trends by simplifying complex financial concepts into practical knowledge through a fun, educational tabletop game. We have set up educators for success by coupling the game with a set of educational resources, including lesson plans, teaching slides, quizzes, and tests, all designed to support Stock Shock's goal of preparing students with basic financial literacy knowledge in preparation for the upcoming mandatory Financial Literacy Test for Grade 10s.
Source:
The Benefits of Board Games in Classrooms
Once seen primarily as entertainment, board games are now proving to be important teaching tools in classrooms, promoting learning and skill-building. They present challenges that allow students to learn, grow, and socialize with peers, making them a beneficial addition that educational institutions can use to help build skills useful inside and beyond the classroom. According to Board Games in the CLIL Classroom, the top 3 benefits that board games provide are interactive learning, skill development, and gaining valuable life lessons.
Interactive Learning Environment
Based on the principles of “Game-Based Learning and Teaching Theory” (GBLTT), one of the primary benefits derived from playing board games in the classroom is that it encourages students to learn interactively. As board games allow students to cooperate and compete, they also provide an excellent opportunity for students to be fully present and, therefore understand and retain the course content more effectively. In fact, many researchers mentioned, "video and board games are often a decent solution for the teacher to create more active and creative learning activities" (Estrada et al. 2024; Hur & Suh, 2012; Huyen & Nga, 2003; Karasimos & Zorbas, 2020; Nautiyal, Silverio & Eunice, 2024; Tokarchuk, Salomatova & Gavrilova 2024; Young & Wang, 2014).
Developing Cognitive Skills
Another benefit of using board games in the classrooms is that they boost skill development regardless of age since most games require concentration and observation. When students pay attention to the details of a game, they develop skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, memorization, and analysis while learning course content, and depending on the type of game, students would be involved with quick decision-making depending on unfolding events (Foreman 2003, p. 16). Furthermore, board games enable students to become creative, where they try to find various solutions and alternatives. Students develop their analytical thinking and memory when remembering previous moves and predicting each move's outcome. These cognitive benefits bring a passion for learning and make education active and cooperative rather than passive, adding further importance to board games in any classroom.
Learning Life Lessons
In addition to interactive learning and skill development, board games teach life lessons that extend beyond academics, like taking risks. Students will learn to make bold moves, try different tactics, and understand what it feels like to 'lose' in a safe environment. This pushes students to practice a growth mindset by looking at mistakes not as failures, but as important opportunities for learning and development (Martinson & Chu, 2008, p. 484). Additionally, playing games introduces beneficial values such as sportsmanship and adherence to rules. Students learn how to win and lose, recognizing that winning isn’t always the priority, and that fair play is important. Many board games also encourage social interactions among students through the practice of sharing, bargaining, and managing conflicts in a constructive manner. More importantly, the combination of strategy and luck teaches the students to be flexible, as they learn that while one can strategize, being able to bounce back in case of any event that does not go as planned sometimes makes all the difference.
Using Stock Shock in Classrooms
Board games have demonstrated their effectiveness as a useful resource in classrooms for interactive learning, skill development, and life lessons. Stock Shock has successfully provided these benefits in classrooms across Ontario to improve financial literacy.
Stock Shock introduces students to investment and stock market trends by simplifying complex financial concepts into practical knowledge through a fun, educational tabletop game. We have set up educators for success by coupling the game with a set of educational resources, including lesson plans, teaching slides, quizzes, and tests, all designed to support Stock Shock's goal of preparing students with basic financial literacy knowledge in preparation for the upcoming mandatory Financial Literacy Test for Grade 10s.
Source: