The focus of this category is on video games that are intended to teach or train the player.
This intentional merger of video games and educational software is sometimes known as edutainment. This genre differs from educational software in that it is primarily about entertainment, but uses the gameplay to educate as well, and may be marketed under the umbrella of an educational game. Usually, video games in this genre are not structured to school curricula, and may not include advisors from the education field.
Nevertheless, educational video games might play an important role in the school curriculum for teachers who have incorporated the game into their lesson plans, and who use them to teach core lessons, reading, sometimes math, and other skills. Video games can be used to hold the interest of students, while they are developing technological skills and learning a variety of lessons.
For example, strategy war games can be used to teach history and to develop strategic thinking. Empire building games, like the Civilization series, can be used to emphasize the economic, political, and military aspects of history. Geography games can use the platform of a video game to help players learn the locations of continents, countries, states, and cities. Although not specifically marketed as an educational game, the SimCity series has been used to help students understand and appreciate the social, practical, and economic processes of city government.
Several games have been specifically developed for homeschooled children or for after-school learning, while others link school curricula to the games. Education video games are those that are designed to be both fun and educational.
Disney Interactive has produced learning games based on Disney characters, such as Winnie-the-Pooh, The Jungle Book, and Mickey Mouse. Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart and Blaster Learning System also fall within this genre.
Although not widely in use, the term "edutainment" was first used in reference to what was then a new focus area for game developers in 1983. That same year, the label was placed on a package of software games for the Oric 1 and Spectrum Microcomputers in the United Kingdom that were made available through Telford ITEC, a government-sponsored training program. Most edutainment games are designed to teach something to players through a game-based learning approach. This genre should not be confused with the closely related genre, known as "serious" games, in which the primary focus is to teach rather than to entertain.
The idea behind education-based video games is that the game encourages problem-solving. Games that are fun and challenging, at the same time, encourage the student to want to persist until the problem is solved. When done well, students may not even know that they are being taught.
Recommended Resources
The site offers more than four hundred educational and entertaining games for children in grades PK-6. Its games are categorized by grade and subject, covering such topics as multiplication, the parts of speech, typing, pattern recognition, and other subjects, as well as some that are just for fun. The Common Core and Next Generation science standards are featured, along with information for parents and teachers, membership options, and a blog.
https://www.abcya.com/
The elementary and middle school learning program, for 8-13 year-olds, is a premium program, requiring the payment of a monthly fee. Members create an avatar representing themselves, which can be equipped with accessories, as well as an online home which can be customized and decorated. Largely using games, the program teaches reading comprehension, writing, and spelling, as well as mathematics, and science. Members may access games, videos, puzzles, and other activities.
https://www.adventureacademy.com/
FunBrain is an educational website for children that combines fun and games with learning. Examples of its games include Math Car Racing and Math Baseball, each of which use games to help students improve their mathematics skills. The site also includes a section for teachers, showing them how they can use the program to advance their curriculum. Games are sorted by grade level, from PK-K to grades 1-8. Besides games, the program also uses online books and video.
https://www.funbrain.com/
Originally known as Knowledge Adventure, the site is operated by JumpStart Games, an educational game developer currently owned by NetDragon Websoft. Prior to 1994, Knowledge Adventure created DOS text adventure games but currently specializes in online educational games for children from preschool through the eighth grade, as well as for math, reading, writing, science, algebra, geometry, and precalculus. Its games are sorted alphabetically.
http://www.knowledgeadventure.com/
Serving as a resource for teachers and educators, NeoK12 features a variety of educational tools for teaching and learning, including quiz games, interactive diagrams, flow chart games, vocabulary games, and other educational games and puzzles, as well as videos. Reviews and testimonials are published to the site, and its games are sorted into subject categories for physical science, life science, human body, earth and space, geography, social studies, history, math, and English.
https://www.neok12.com/
Prodigy is a free, curriculum-aligned math game for grades one through eight, teaching math skills from all major topics, beginning with a diagnostic test to place students in the correct grade, embedded assessments, and automatic differentiation. There is no cost for teachers to use Prodigy, and everything that students work on within the program is reported to the teacher in real-time. Signups are available for teachers, parents, and students. Job opportunities are posted to the site.
https://www.prodigygame.com/
Specializing in educational games, the site features hundreds of free, online learning games for children, although there are games that may be of interest to learners of all ages, including math, science, language arts, health, geography, history, the seasons, animals, and creative activities. Its content is sorted by subject matter, as well as by grade level. The ten most popular games, those relating to specific holidays, and other special games are included.
https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
Walden is a simulation of the life of the American philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, during the time that he was carrying on his experiment in self-reliant living on Walden Pond. The setting of the game begins in the summer of 1845 when Thoreau moved to the Pond and build a cabin there. As the game continues, players follow in Thoreau’s footsteps, offering more of a focus on reflective play than on strategic challenges. Platforms for which the game is available are stated.
https://www.waldengame.com/
