For lots of people growing up, school and learning meant serious business. You got in, put in serious hard work, and earned respectable grades that made your parents proud. There was little room for fun and games in that mix, of course, but school trips every now and then, and competitive meets, drama, and music festivals did provide an avenue to let students blow some steam off.
At some level, then, there has always been an understanding that there are certain forms of entertainment that can both educate and amuse. And with today’s technological advancements, whole new categories of tools and programming integrate academics to enhance teaching and learning.
Let’s face it. You know that too much screen time is unhealthy, but you have also witnessed firsthand how effective screens can be in calming or distracting a wailing child. In fact, you have probably succumbed to using your phone or TV as a babysitter more often than you might care to admit.
With various studies showing that small amounts of daily screen use are not harmful but could actually have some benefits, taking charge of how screen time is used could be a much better strategy than banning technology altogether.
Indeed, with industry analyst Ambient Insight projecting a jump in the sales of game-based learning products from $2.6 billion in 2016 to $7.3 billion by 2021, it is clear that technology is set to become more and more embedded in our lives – and especially in education.
Here are some more interesting things to know about edutainment:
Draws the attention of learners to education
It is curious how most kids with a ‘bad attitude’ in school will claim that education is not fun enough even as their parents argue that entertainment is not serious enough. Naturally, parents want their children to enjoy an education that cultivates maturity, responsibility, knowledge, and growth; while children, on their part, always seem to want fun.
Educational toys and games, however, prove that edutainment can facilitate profound learning while providing the rich delights that remove boredom from conventional class activities. There are scientific studies, indeed, that prove that audio, video, and physical playful learning games have a positive and appealing impact in getting students interested in education.
Enhances teaching and learning methods at home and school
There are those who argue that once students become accustomed to flashy and polished entertainment products, then they become reliant on such models for learning. And while the use of devices in edutainment has also been criticized as likely to distract some students from learning, the truth is that students truly engage with study material when they are having fun while learning.
Edutainment techniques remain a great way to help students develop the media literacy skills they need to survive and thrive in an increasingly tech-based world. Their portable technology also inspires and enhances hands-on learning by making it possible for students to learn anywhere.
A young girl doing her homework.
Motivates students
It is true that entertainment is not the goal of education. Education does, after all, aim at the academic, intellectual, and social growth of human beings. That said, education can only happen when students are motivated to learn; so, there can be little to no downside to employing lively and engaging methods that stimulate learning.
But because edutainment does emphasize the usage of computers and smart gadgets to facilitate learning, it is crucial to ensure you use quality sources that do not contain misleading and misleading information. As we all know, not all information on the internet is true or verified.
Fortunately, tizi.games offer curated games that are ideal for preschoolers and older children. These games help them improve their skills in memory, concentration, and the development of knowledge.
Don’t let your child get left behind, and certainly don’t let the only thing they do with your smartphone by watching YouTube videos. Instead, help them discover the amazing options they could explore in the world of edutainment, and teach them early on that learning can be fun!
