Educational games and real-time feedback: How can assessment be transformed?

We are increasingly seeing an evolution in assessment methods, which call for more realistic approaches in line with contemporary educational needs, where the application of knowledge in real life is highly valued.

In this context, educational games have emerged as a powerful tool, not only for teaching, but also for revolutionizing the way we assess knowledge through a simple feature: immediate feedback, which allows us to assess in real time.

O que é o feedback imediato?

In the context of educational games, immediate feedback is the instant response that players receive while interacting with a game. In classes and self-study, this is a valuable tool that provides students and educators with real-time assessment of their actions, decisions and responses within the game.

This real-time assessment feature can appear in various forms in game-based learning: instant responses to players' actions (for example, the screen can shake when the user makes a mistake), progress bars, scoreboards, in-game hints and tips, among others.

Scorecards that give players a rank or medal work well to promote healthy competition. This example is what Kendir Studios uses in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Modules,

When implemented in an educational game, immediate feedback has very positive results for learning: not only does it keep players motivated, but it can also be a source of information for teachers and students to understand what the class's strengths or difficulties are. This allows for constant adaptation of teaching methods.

Additionally, when a student receives a quick response to their performance, their instinct is to immediately correct the error if it exists, which increases knowledge retention.

Benefits of real-time feedback

1. Immediate correction

Immediate feedback allows students to learn as they play by quickly correcting mistakes when they happen. This facilitates the understanding of concepts and the practical application of knowledge.

2. Maior envolvimento e motivação

The interactivity offered by real-time feedback keeps players motivated. For a student, the idea that their actions have immediate consequences - such as the feeling of achievement or the challenge to improve - makes learning more engaging.

Guiding students through the learning process can be as simple as textual feedback. In this image. it reads "Congratulations you got it right!".

3. Adaptation of learning

Evaluating students' performance in real time makes it possible to adapt teaching to their pace and learning style and to understand what their biggest difficulties are.

For teachers, this approach presents class performance in a clearer and more immediate format, unlike traditional assessment methods. With statistical data in the palm of their hand, educators can immediately identify the areas that need the most focus in order to provide personalized guidance or readjust their lesson plan.

4. Promoting self-regulation

By using digital tools with immediate feedback autonomously, students can self-regulate their learning process, using real-time assessment to adjust their strategies.

Real-time feedback promotes a culture of continuous improvement, allowing students to refine their knowledge and methods in a healthy way.

In short, immediate feedback is, due to its many benefits, a fundamental part of game-based learning, which provides a stimulating learning environment and offers valuable opportunities for students' educational development.

Sources:

1. Drey, T., Jansen, P., Fischbach, F., Frommel, J., & Rukzio, E. (2020, April). Towards progress assessment for adaptive hints in educational virtual reality games. In Extended Abstracts of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-9).

2. Minović, M., & Milovanović, M. (2013, November). Real-time learning analytics in educational games. In Proceedings of the first international conference on technological ecosystem for enhancing multiculturality (pp. 245-251).

3. Wazny, J., & Nathan-Roberts, D. (2018). Real-Time Cognitive-State Neuroimaging in Applied Education. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 62, 1157 - 1161. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541931218621266.