Here are some statistics about the gaming industry that you may not know
3 Billion people worldwide play video games, 40% of the world's population play some form of video games
55% are male gamers, 45% are female, and almost equal
In 2021, the Global “Games Market” had $180BN in revenue. In fact, Gaming is bigger than Hollywood and the music industry combined.
Top games are earning more than the big blockbusters. Around 85% of all gaming revenue comes from free-to-play games.
India has 500 million gamers has a market worth $2.6 billion
Top games played by students worldwide are – PUBG, Minecraft, Apex Legends, Fortnite Battle Royale, Call of Duty
Schools and educators mostly live in a world that is oblivious to the big world of gaming out there. There is very little interaction between the world of education and the gaming world. The fact of the matter is that 50% of our kids are engaged in some form of gaming it is imperative for educators to wake up to this reality and see how they could use this opportunity to support learning.
Students playing games is not too bad; numerous studies suggest that playing games in the classroom has multiple benefits. There’s solid proof of the value of games in education. Here are 9 benefits of games I gathered from www.teachstarter.com
More Motivation
Studies show that playing games in the classroom can increase overall motivation. Students become more motivated to learn, pay attention, and participate in class activities. They can also be a great classroom management tool, helping to motivate a class
Student Attentiveness
As games can move quickly, a student needs to be alert and attentive for extended periods, and a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison found games actually benefit students by helping them shape their attentiveness and training the brain in how to learn
Problem-Solving
Taiwanese researchers found that kids who designed their own cities using simulation games showed stronger problem-solving skills than peers who learned about cities in more traditional ways. The University of Manchester had similar results — “playing interactive educational games may positively impact children’s problem-solving skills and engage them in advanced mathematical thinking.
Increased Class Cooperation
Gameplay can go a long way toward building their cooperation skills, as researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom found. Games in the classroom allow students to learn how to work together as a team, take turns, build respect, listen to others, and play fairly
Memory Workout
We often think of playing brain games as a way for older folks to keep their memories in shape, but that benefit also extends to kids. Several studies have shown that video games, in particular, actually help kids build up their memories — and the benefits last well into adulthood
Speak their Language
Today’s kids live in a digital world. They’re used to a gamified experience at every turn, and research has shown games in the classroom help relate to digital natives in a language they understand
Learning From Mistakes
As much as games in the classroom are about learning a concept, they’re also about learning from what goes wrong, which gives students both the problem-solving development and the social-emotional benefits too
Gaming is one of the biggest disrupters on our planet today, it has a tremendous impact on our children but very little impact on our education system, and this has to change. We have to acknowledge the power of gaming and incorporate it in our schools.