USING EDUCATIONAL GAMES TO MAKE THE PAST COME ALIVE IN THE CLASSROOM

JHOANA MAE G. MANGULABNAN

History or Araling Panlipunan is one of the hardest subjects to teach. Learners find it dry, boring, and irrelevant. Remembering dates, historically relevant people heroes and places are just too difficult for them. But using games and interactive tools we can transform the study of history into engaging and fun experience for our learners. By leveraging the interactive nature of games and the innate competitive and fun seeking nature of learners we can ignite the learner’s curiosity and foster deeper understanding of historical events.

Historically related games offer learners unique experience. Assuming the role of a certain historical figure, emerging to its simulated life and environment, participating in different scenarios give opportunity to the learners to explore and make personal connection to the past thus making them understand the importance and contribution of history in their current life. Educational games give them opportunity to experience key events firsthand which a book cannot replicate. Educational game can lead to immersive learning that can overcome traditional classroom boundaries. Particularly in subject such as history, where learners struggle a lot to connect or relate in every event or memorizing different date and events on history. By utilizing educational games, they can experience immersion that can trigger their curiosity and encourage them more to stay on learning while enjoying the said topic.

One of the advantages of using games is that it is interactive in nature. In education teacher-learner engagement is the key for fast learning. For you to catch their attention you must make some adjustment and one of this to harnessing the power of educational games. By playing education game learner can keep on active and critical thinking that is much more engaging compared to conventional teaching like memorization. By different interaction in-game they are encouraged to evaluate and to solve a problem in different scenarios in history. By providing this dynamic hands-on approach to learning, learners become historians on their own accord, navigating to the past, armed with their curiosity and enthusiasm.

Educational games offer teachers flexible tool for their diverse learners. Teachers can customize the games and activities depending on the needs and interest of their learners. Teachers can select activities that are aligned to their lessons then modify it according to level of the learners. By catering to students' unique strengths and challenges, educational games ensure that all learners have the opportunity to succeed which will boost their confidence. As learners navigate through the world of game, they will develop their critical thinking skills, communication skills and their social skills.

In conclusion, using games can be one of our most powerful tools to make our classroom fun and engaging. A useful activity to bring the historical events to life catching student interest and attention. In this fast-pacing world where learners would rather face their phones than read a book, we as teachers must find a way to incorporate their interest to our everyday lessons. Thinking of ways where we can use their interest to our advantage. We just need to explore and widen our boundaries. Make suitable adjustment and understand their needs and interests for us to provide positive, engaging, and meaningful learning environment. Our technology is evolving and by utilizing this, teacher can use this as advantage to make the students more immersed and engaged on learning history.

-oOoTHE AUTHOR IS TEACHER I AT MINALUNGAO ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL