Learning by playing mobile educational games has many benefits. They allow learners to develop 21st century skills, tackle complex problems, and acquire information in a “just-in-time” fashion. Klopfer argues that these games hold a unique position in the realm of educational technology. Here are three ways to improve the educational experience of mobile games. Let’s start by determining the audience for each. Then, analyze the features of the games.
Multiplayer modes
One of the best ways to leverage Minecraft in the classroom is through its multiplayer mode. This mode promotes team play, communication, and problem-solving skills. The Minecraft Education Edition allows players in the same Office 365 tenant to host worlds and share them with other players. In order to join a world, players must match part of the email address after the @ symbol. This mode is not available on all platforms, though, so parents will have to be patient.
In the settings, students can change the host environment and access the Join Code. When playing with friends or against parents, children can play alone or compete against each other. Students can select a mode that suits their skill level. The easy mode is for beginners. It’s also a good practice mode. The hard mode is for advanced players. For young children, it’s recommended to play on an easy mode to gain experience.
In-app purchases
Some parents and teachers may not even know that cheaper versions of a mobile game exist. They may not read the app’s description to find out about in-app purchases. Moreover, in-app purchases may not be suitable for educational games, which aim to teach children basic concepts and skills. The EAS certification process penalises apps that contain in-app purchases. However, educational games can still be monetized through in-app purchases if the price is reasonable.
According to a study by Apsalar, in-app purchases are the most popular among strategy games. People who download strategy games are 18.5 times more likely to buy power-ups and cheats than players of trivia or adventure games. Educational games, on the other hand, are unlikely to generate any in-app revenue. For example, games with a history of negative reviews are less likely to earn high profits.
Connecting mechanics
While all game mechanics should serve an educational purpose, some are used for their emotional effect on students. Wagered, bidding, and “press your luck” mechanics, for example, are not directly educational, but can engage students emotionally. In this article, we explore some of the most common game mechanics in educational games and discuss their potential value in educational games. The authors conclude that learning games are increasingly popular with kids, as they can be an excellent tool for developing strategic thinking.
For educational games, incorporating quizzes is a common strategy, but it should be carefully crafted to ensure a meaningful learning experience. Ideally, the questions should be part of the character’s journey. Adventure and RPG games lend themselves to this type of gameplay. This way, parents won’t have to worry about their kids completing quizzes. This can also promote peer-review of the game.
Ads
Ads in mobile educational games can be both profitable and impactful, and developers should consider using different types of ad formats to attract potential users. Adverty, a publicly traded advertising technology company based in Stockholm, Sweden, published an article about the process of integrating advertisements into games. This technique allows publishers and developers to integrate ads into the gameplay environment, making them a seamless part of the design. Below are some examples of educational games that use Admob.
The study shows that many children are unable to distinguish between ads and game content. Ads that appear in the background of games often have disturbing imagery. Even more disturbing were the “triggered” ads, which sent the player into another level of advertising. In addition, researchers found that some ads are incredibly deceptive and do not follow age-appropriate guidelines. Children spend approximately an hour per day playing games on their mobile devices, and their exposure to these ads often exceeds the time they spent playing the games themselves.
Adaptability
Mobile educational games like Agen Bola are a great way to engage students in education, but they have many drawbacks. In addition to their portability, they lack the real-world relevance of the challenges they pose. Instead, they are procedural simulations of the real world, and learners often lose touch with the systems modeled in the game. This makes it difficult for K12 students to make connections between the knowledge they learn and their everyday life.
One of the most important aspects of effective educational games is that they offer a conceptual framework for students to learn about various topics. The storyline, for example, may have a narrative plot that teaches the players how to recognize trends. In addition, the game’s narrative structure may mix acceptable and casual themes. Regardless of the game’s narrative style, it will need to have goals and rules of play that guide players.
