By Scott Dow, CEO — Heroic Game Day
Over a decade ago, I began a quest to bring education and gaming together — to engage students with game-based learning platforms. With the dawn of broadband internet, I watched games like Minecraft and Fortnite offer online portals to captivating new worlds. Years after their release, these titles still engage millions of active monthly players.
To harness these games’ immersive qualities, I needed a team. I needed educators to make the content learnable, game developers to make it motivating, and subject matter experts to make it relevant.
With the right team, I found that engaging gamification can more than bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. For example, we took on the challenge of teaching first-graders to build semiconductors, the tiny computer chips that power everything from cell phones to automobiles to fighter jets. As in Minecraft, kids started their adventure at ground zero. Their journey of discovery began with mining sand, carrying it to the factory, and melting it into silicon.
PhDs from both Stanford and Harvard told us that kids could not learn to build a computer chip, but when students engaged in gamified learning, they acquired the skill in under 12 months. They immersed themselves in the story, used their creativity, collaborated with peers, and were fueled by the competition.
Embrace the power of storytelling in educational gamification
Fortnite’s overarching storyline, seasonal events, and time-limited challenges keep players excited about what will happen next, while Minecraft’s open-ended environment allows players to create their own stories powered by imagination. In each game, players become invested in an evolving narrative and, consequently, more engaged with the content.
Embedding storylines into learning experiences transforms lessons from monotonous tasks into engaging adventures of discovery because the story demands active participation. When students become part of the story, they not only absorb information but also interact with it, apply what they’ve learned, and engage in hands-on problem-solving. This active engagement ensures a deeper understanding of the material and improves retention.
Why educational gamification prioritizes freedom and creativity
Minecraft thrives on the thrill of creativity. At its core, it is a sandbox game offering limitless possibilities. Players create their own worlds with anything from humble abodes to sprawling cities.
Fortnite also offers building mechanics. Players construct walls, ramps, and fortresses on the fly, adding a layer of strategy and creativity to the traditional shooter format. These inventions enable players to control their environment and fate within the game.
Engaging in educational games empowers students to explore, experiment, and express themselves. By allowing learners to approach problems in multiple ways, make choices, and customize their learning environments, we foster innovation and creativity.
In a gamified learning experience, students are encouraged to take risks, try different approaches, and learn from their failures. As they overcome obstacles and solve puzzles that increase in difficulty, they discover the importance of resilience and a growth mindset.
Educational gamification fosters competition with achievement and progress
Fortnite’s “Battle Royale” mode drops 100 players onto an island to scavenge for resources and battle it out until only one remains. Similarly, Minecraft’s survival mode encourages players to explore and interact with the environment, build shelters, and fend off deadly creatures. Both are designed to tap into a player’s competitive nature through problem-solving and strategic thinking.
Educational gamification uses badges, points, unlockable content, and leaderboards to provide immediate feedback to incentivize learning, continually celebrate achievements, and motivate students to push forward. This starkly contrasts with traditional grading systems, which tend to delay feedback and focus on what is lacking.
Educational gamification leverages social learning
Minecraft’s engagement stems mainly from a global community of creators eager to share creations and collaborate on projects. Fortnite’s active community also encourages collaboration, competition, and shared experiences.
When educational games are designed to be played in teams or with peers, they promote collaboration and enhance social skills. Students learn to communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and support each other toward a common goal. This makes learning more enjoyable and develops essential skills needed for success outside the classroom.
Learning is about relevance, hope, and the motivation to put in the work to succeed
All of the above principles of learning and gameplay create relevance for students. If students see a subject as relevant, they are much more likely to put in the work to master it.
Hope happens when someone sees a better path they see is achievable. This motivates the student to put in the work to learn the subject. It takes work to succeed, and that means the learner needs to be motivated.
The science of gaming, combined with the science of human learning behavior, has the potential to change the way our children learn.
This is what we call using technology for good, and we’ve figured out how to do it without requiring classroom or teacher time.
This is a learning platform that is engaging and extremely scalable, and we even guarantee that it delivers the right learning outcomes.
The future of educational gaming
The engagement of Fortnite and Minecraft lies in their ability to merge creativity, community, competition, and continuous evolution, creating immersive worlds that captivate the imagination of millions. By offering players a platform to express themselves, learn, and connect with others, these games have secured their place in the cultural zeitgeist of the digital age.
Creating educational games with the engagement level of Fortnite and Minecraft is no small feat. Yet, by integrating storytelling, freedom, interactivity, and social connectivity into educational content, we can unlock new realms of learning, and instill the hope that drives the motivation needed to put in the work to succeed.
Educational gamification reflects a deep understanding of what motivates and engages learners. By harnessing the power of play, we create an engaging and motivating environment that prepares students for the future.
About Scott Dow
Scott Dow is the President of Heroic Game Day. He leads the development and distribution of a game-based skills learning platform for K-6 students that empowers them to master the Top20 skills that the market and communities want. With over a decade of experience in this field, he has built partnerships with global licensees and distributors who share his vision of changing the game in education and making a positive social impact.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
