How games boost learning
Young people in the UK are at risk of falling behind in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths skills that are critical to individual career potential in our rapidly changing modern world.
Covid has made things much worse, especially for working class people. BAME boys are amongst the worst affected. These disadvantaged young people are extremely hard to reach and suffer from technology poverty. A generation of young people who have grown up as digital natives lack the creative technology skills they need to start long, well-paid careers in industries such as videogames. Videogames have unique answers to these challenges.
What can videogames do to address uptake of STEAM skills?
Videogames are played by over 60% of the adult population but 92% of those aged 16-25. Even the hardest to reach, most disengaged young people play videogames.
Videogames are almost unique in using all the STEAM skills found in the national curriculum in their production. Games are made by teams of creative technologists such as programmers, artists, designers, engineers, writers and musicians. Learning any one of these skills to make games can take young people into hundreds of different careers, many unrelated to games. Most of 2020’s 11,000 UK videogames degree graduates will go into other careers in sectors as diverse as finance, engineering, internet as well as many other creative industries.
Games are powerful learning tools
Repeated academic studies over the last 40 years have shown that games develop visual and fine motor skills, strategic thinking and relationship building, communication and socialisation, and can improve mental health. Anyone who has ever played a game instinctively knows they are learning systems based around training players to achieve their goal: fun.
In the classroom, games come into their own. Games are powerful learning tools. Every child learns through play and repetition. Games deliver scaffolded learning powered by fun. They can used to teach any subject, which is why you will find them in most school classrooms and museums and in many workplaces. Teachers across the country are using games to inspire children to learn science, maths, arts and technology.
The power of Play
Our charity makes these skills fun to learn and easy to acquire through imaginative courses and accessible technology. We inspire young people to find their creativity and re-engage with education.
We have long experience in engaging young people with the creativity of simple videogames development. We have outstanding outcomes because children often learn without realising they are learning.