The use of educational games in tutoring offers an engaging approach to learning, which can improve a student’s understanding and knowledge. Educational games, whether they are physical or online, provide students with an interactive experience that encourages them to enjoy learning and tutoring.
One of the benefits of the use of educational games is that they promote thinking critically about what they’re doing as opposed to just receiving information. This is because students actively participate in the game which requires them to solve problems and apply their knowledge. This helps students to enjoy their learning while also understanding content more effectively. For example, math games can encourage student’s mental maths as they have to solve arithmetic problems quickly.
Educational games can assist with meeting different student’s learning styles, such as kinaesthetic and auditory. These games can be designed to address various learning preferences, offering a useful tool for tutors to meet the needs of different students. For example, some students may find it difficult to learn about science content with a verbal description and may need a game such as matching concepts, or ordering steps to assist with learning.
Furthermore, educational games create an environment where students have to take risks and make mistakes. This allows students to become more confident with getting questions wrong, and encourages giving this a go. This is critical for education, as some students may second guess themselves as they lack confidence, which can cause them to not attempt certain questions or difficult subjects.
Although educational games offer many advantages, they can also become a distraction for students as opposed to a learning tool. This is because students can become more focused on the competitive aspects of the game, thus resorting to other tactics such as guessing instead of critically thinking.
Overall, educational games can be an effective alternative learning tool for tutors to use, however they can become ineffective if not used correctly.

Chloe Cooke