Educators have had many challenges over the past decade as the educational system has undergone change driven by new government and community policies aimed at improving educational outcomes and shifting focus in line with changing career and industry landscapes. And like any large industry,
there has been much disagreement internationally with some of the changes, most famously in recent time adding the “A” for arts to STEM to evolve it into STEAM education. And as blended and multimodal learning gains more and more credibility, a common question that invokes debate is whether STEAM educational games can be used as a serious educational tool in the teacher’s toolbox.
The meaning of knowing today has shifted from being able to recall and repeat information to being able to find it, evaluate it and use it compellingly at the right time and in the right context; using higher order skills, like the ability to think, solve complex problems or interact critically through language and media. In developing these skills, many STEAM education experts believe an important part of improving our current educational approaches should include a way to help kids learn from what they do best – play!
Games naturally support this form of education. Some experts argue that games are, first and foremost, learning systems, and that this accounts for the sense of engagement and entertainment players experience. STEAM educational games are designed to create a comp