Extract from www.kallikids.com
Why
Is role play so effective?
Role play is an effective learning tool as it
encourages children to become active participants in their learning. Children
can move about, put themselves in someone else’s shoes, perhaps wear a costume
and use props, communicate and make decisions in character, which will allow
them to take risks and explore different areas. Learning from role play is
therefore far more likely to stick with children than for example doing
exercise sheets, mostly because they will be much more willing and
enthusiastic!
Impact
on language learning
Role play is especially beneficially for
developing language, both for children with English as an additional language
and for native English speakers. As well as vocabulary and language, role play
develops children’s communication skills as children communicate with each
other in a safe ‘play’ environment. Role play is the most effective way of
acquiring language.
Using Games to Promote
Communicative Skills in Language Learning
Extract from http://iteslj.org
The benefits of using games in
language-learning can be summed up in nine points.
· Games are learner centered.
· Promote communicative competence.
What is Effective
Game-based Learning, and Why Does it Work?
Extract from
http://www.newmedia.org
When education or training feels dull, we are
not being engaged and motivated. In other words, we’re not really learning.
“Learning” doesn’t mean rote memorization—it means acquiring the skills and
thought processes needed to respond appropriately under pressure, in a variety
of situations.
We don’t need more time in the classroom to
learn how to think and perform in the face of real-world challenges. We need
effective, interactive experiences that motivate and actively engage us in the
learning process. This is where game-based learning comes in. As it turns out,
for many years, videogame designers have been producing and refining highly
motivating learning environments for their players to enjoy.
Good game-based learning applications can draw
us into virtual environments that look and feel familiar and relevant.
According to Dr. Susan Ambrose, director of Carnegie Mellon’s Eberly Center for
Teaching Excellence, this is motivational because we can quickly see and
understand the connection between the learning experience and our real-life
work.
Within an effective game-based learning
environment, we work toward a goal, choosing actions and experiencing the
consequences of those actions along the way. We make mistakes in a risk-free
setting, and through experimentation, we actively learn and practice the right
way to do things. This keeps us highly engaged in practicing behaviors and
thought processes that we can easily transfer from the simulated environment to
real life. Research supports the effectiveness of game-based learning in
virtual environments—for example, according to a meta-analysis of flight
simulator training effectiveness, simulators combined with aircraft training
consistently produced training improvements compared to aircraft-only training
.
In contrast, traditional, passive training
approaches drill us on certain narrow procedures, and then evaluate us on our
memory of what we were told. Even when we successfully retain the lesson’s
facts and procedures, our behavior in true-to-life situations remains untested.
In addition, even the most comprehensive training program cannot cover
procedures for every complex eventuality that we will encounter—no matter how
thick the binder is. In game-based environments, we learn not only the facts,
but also the important, underlying hows and whys. This understanding of deeper,
more abstract principles prepares us to perform consistently and effectively,
even in new and unexpected situations.
Role play is an effective learning tool as it
encourages children to become active participants in their learning. Children
can move about, put themselves in someone else’s shoes, perhaps wear a costume
and use props, communicate and make decisions in character, which will allow
them to take risks and explore different areas. Learning from role play is
therefore far more likely to stick with children than for example doing
exercise sheets, mostly because they will be much more willing and
enthusiastic!
As a teacher, it is a great sign if you see
the children you teach in the playground acting out what they have just learnt.
This shows that you have grabbed their attention and engaged their curiosity.
Most role play areas will reflect a real life
context. Role play is therefore an effective way for children to make sense of
the world around them. Setting up a doctor’s room, supermarket, or police
station will allow children to explore these real life contexts. In any role
play area there can be opportunities to develop children’s writing and
Mathematic skills. Just leaving a pen and paper out will encourage children to
write or ‘mark-make’ without a fear of getting something wrong. For example,
when setting up a supermarket, you could make blank shopping lists for the
children to write on or give them pre-made shopping lists for them to collect
items– so 3 oranges 5 lemons – this will encourage younger children to practice
counting for a purpose other than assessment in a classroom.
Role play is especially beneficially for
developing language, both for children with English as an additional language
and for native English speakers. As well as vocabulary and language, role play
develops children’s communication skills as children communicate with each
other in a safe ‘play’ environment. Role play is the most effective way of
acquiring language.
Key benefits of role playing for children
Develops communication and language skills
Allows children to act out and make sense of
real-life situations
Allows children to explore, investigate and experiment
Develops social skills as children collaborate
with others
Children learn to empathise with others –
taking part in a role play activity would usually mean that you are taking on
the role of character which will teach children about the empathy and
understanding of different perspectives.
Helps children learn about different cultures
Encourages children to express their ideas and
feelings in a relaxed environment
Develops children's awareness of themselves
and others
Gets children learning more as learning is
disguised as play
Sparks creativity and imagination
In essence, role play provides opportunities
to develop skills in various different areas of the curriculum for example:
numbers, history, culture and many other areas.
Role play is a great way to learn at all ages!
When education or training feels dull, we are
not being engaged and motivated. In other words, we’re not really learning.
“Learning” doesn’t mean rote memorization—it means acquiring the skills and
thought processes needed to respond appropriately under pressure, in a variety
of situations.
We don’t need more time in the classroom to
learn how to think and perform in the face of real-world challenges. We need
effective, interactive experiences that motivate and actively engage us in the
learning process. This is where game-based learning comes in. As it turns out,
for many years, videogame designers have been producing and refining highly
motivating learning environments for their players to enjoy.
Good game-based learning applications can draw
us into virtual environments that look and feel familiar and relevant.
According to Dr. Susan Ambrose, director of Carnegie Mellon’s Eberly Center for
Teaching Excellence, this is motivational because we can quickly see and
understand the connection between the learning experience and our real-life
work.
Within an effective game-based learning
environment, we work toward a goal, choosing actions and experiencing the
consequences of those actions along the way. We make mistakes in a risk-free
setting, and through experimentation, we actively learn and practice the right
way to do things. This keeps us highly engaged in practicing behaviors and
thought processes that we can easily transfer from the simulated environment to
real life. Research supports the effectiveness of game-based learning in
virtual environments—for example, according to a meta-analysis of flight
simulator training effectiveness, simulators combined with aircraft training
consistently produced training improvements compared to aircraft-only training
.
In contrast, traditional, passive training
approaches drill us on certain narrow procedures, and then evaluate us on our
memory of what we were told. Even when we successfully retain the lesson’s
facts and procedures, our behavior in true-to-life situations remains untested.
In addition, even the most comprehensive training program cannot cover
procedures for every complex eventuality that we will encounter—no matter how
thick the binder is. In game-based environments, we learn not only the facts,
but also the important, underlying hows and whys. This understanding of deeper,
more abstract principles prepares us to perform consistently and effectively,
even in new and unexpected situations.
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