Game-Based Learning

A game-based learning expert looks at why teachers should try using games, and shares a new book—available for free—that will help them identify worthwhile games for their students.

This lesson plan gives students practice with coding—no prior experience needed—and fosters literacy skills like plotting and proofreading.

These games simulate real-world problems, guiding middle and high school students to engage deeply with content—and embedded supports benefit English language learners in particular.

Teachers can help students improve skills like inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility by explicitly connecting them to popular games—and then letting students play.

Building a sense of play around math problems encourages students to engage and collaborate.

Like a story, lessons deserve compelling beginnings and endings. From pop culture connections to finishing with a level-up, here are eight strategies for holding students’ attention.

Formative assessment is a snap with games and other tools that let you see how students answer questions and review material.

Teachers are leveraging the power of gaming to turn even reluctant student writers into enthusiastic storytellers.

Minecraft is no longer a new tool in the field of game-based learning. Because Minecraft has such open possibilities and potential, teachers have been experimenting with different ways to use it in the classroom for a while now to teach math concepts like ratios and proportions, while others use it to support student creativity and collaboration.

Check out Edutopia's collection of articles, videos, and resources on using video games, simulations, and gaming concepts in the classroom.

Invite your students to participate in a behavioral model that helps them level up their engagement and attitude—much like a video game.

An hour of coding is a fun beginner’s experiment for teachers or parents to do with kids—these resources make it easy as well.

Playing and building games helps students understand complex systems—including their own systems of thinking.

Bring professional development events to life with challenges that merge collaboration, interactivity, and problem-solving in a hands-on environment for learning technology.