The world is changing day by day. Technology is also changing day by day. There is some initial conflict when people change the traditions they have been using for a long time. That’s why people don’t like to change suddenly. People become nervous and curious about their ability to make this change and whether they will be able to continue doing so. People in Sri Lanka are especially unfamiliar with this condition. In early periods, Sri Lankans were used to the newspaper, and when the radio came among people, people thought that this was not suitable for them.
When people were used to radio and newspapers, and when they heard about television, they thought that their culture would be destroyed by it. After that, when the computer came, many thought that people’s creativity would be lost. But people realised with time that we get used to all those technical stuff. People get creative through technology. When children use social media, for example, their parents raise many issues, such as waste of time. But children learn through it and become creative.
Tiktok was banned several times by Indians who said it was not good. However, today that app is used for education. Social media is used for education. Despite being told not to look at the mobile phone, today’s educational matters, employment matters, and human relations are all based on technology. Parents forbid children from playing video games on computers or any other device. But one thing we see today is that people learn a lot through computer games, such as human relations. If we see multiple games, people learn about human relations through them.
Currently, researchers are conducting various studies in this area. For example, if we look at computer games for education, games have been developed for young children to learn numbers, letters, colors, and all these things while socializing. There are mobile apps too. Parents who had forbidden their children from using mobile phones finally had nothing to worry about because all educational matters are now handled via mobile phone. When children get used to a game, a competitive mentality arises.
That competition may be with a friend, or it may be on the computer or the phone. Then the task of acquainting small children with an efficient and effective world is done through a game on the mobile phone. If we see a shooting game while playing it, if it is a multiple-player game, people will get a chance to associate with their close friends. Through a multiple-choice game, we can find out who are the friends who are running away and who are the friends who will stand up for themselves. Also, a variety of games have been created that decorate the environment, drive vehicles, and the games including management. Then when children play with such things, it is easy for them to get used to certain things. So we want to guide children not only to play games but also to create games.
So education is the most powerful and precious thing that someone has until death. Sri Lanka has its own education system. Mainly, the traditional learning system, which is called face-to-face learning, is practiced throughout the country. In Sri Lanka, education is conducted in three stages. Primary, Secondary (Junior and Senior), and Colligate. Primary education is the most important of the three stages as it is the key to building a strong foundation. During this period, children learn the basics of everything. Great attention must be paid to this period.
The new media is viral in society. Newborns are digital natives. They all have been connected with new media since their birth. One of the platforms of new media is gamification. Rather than traditional learning, children like to learn through various activities, both indoor and outdoor. Gamification is a new education system in contrast to traditional learning. Using gamification in education, children have the potential to learn more than they learn in a classroom. Using gamification rather than traditional learning also has the potential to motivate children to learn.
Primary teachers
Most of the primary teachers are using new media, and they use smartphones to connect with new media. Primary teachers are using the Zoom conferencing app to teach children, and they use WhatsApp to share extracurricular activities. Through educational video games, the children’s knowledge improved, and so did their level of reasoning ability. The process of the mind or brain increases and acquires learning opportunities, improving intelligence and knowledge. The child is not just learning through educational video games; the child has fun and opportunities for relaxation of the mind. Children benefit from educational games with descriptive and colorful visuals, child-friendly games, creative and age-appropriate content, and attractive games. Games can help students to continue learning. Therefore, video games (gamification) are suitable to teach children.
The word “education” means learning something new in a formal or informal way; it may be an unknown thing or it may be a known thing, rather than someone knowing or getting or giving some information about something. The definitions from Oxford Languages defined education as “the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university.” In every country in the world has their own education system, the ages which children learn will be changed according to their social, political, economic environment. Every educational system has both formal and informal, non-formal ways of teaching. Education will bring positive attitudes and perfect behavior into human life.
In Sri Lanka, there are three main stages in the education system. The grade 1–5 classes can be defined as the primary classes. Primary education is a critical stage for a child in the education system. The child will grow up, improve his or her knowledge, skills, attitude during this period. If he or she is able to obtain a better education during this period, it will be a great opportunity to build the best human, and this era paves the way for the child to advance to the next level of education.
Normally, in Sri Lanka, education is based on traditional learning. Normally, face-to-face learning systems can be seen in every school. A traditional teacher-centered classroom would be considered ineffective as it requires students to concentrate for long periods of time and could be an obstacle to student learning and engagement. Instead, practical activities aid in helping students to focus as well as increase engagement in activities.
The world is more competitive than in the past. Using smartphones and other new media can make a child wiser than in the past. Children will be more interested in this method than ever. Learning in a classroom with the help of a teacher somewhat reduces the interest of a child to concentrate on the lesson, but having smart phones or tablets will help them to learn with more willingness.
Children always used mobile phones and computers to connect with new media. so they are combined with each other. Various types of communication systems in new media can be mentioned below.
* Websites
* Blogs
* Social media
* Video games (gamification), etc.
Gamification in Education
Digital games are one type of new media. People are used to playing video games through computers and mobile phones. It can be mentioned as below: The video game is an electronic game that someone can play through the monitor or any other display. It can be used as an individual game or it can be played by one person. Video games are normally based on entertainment. Video games are based on a story.
Normally, in the education sector, children learn using traditional methods. But gamification can be used as a new media tool in the primary education system. Applying subjects to a video game and using video games will help children to learn more practically and willingly. As the researchers say, “gamification is the use of game thinking, approaches, and elements in a context different from the games. Using game mechanics improves motivation and learning in formal and informal conditions. Kiryakova 1, Angelova 3, Yordanova 2014)
Gamification rather than traditional learning will motivate children to learn. Even during a global epidemic like Covid-19, this method can be very easily used, and the children reach their lessons easily. The schools are closed, and the entire environment changed during the pandemic. Everyone had to stay at home for sanitary issues. But applying learning through video games (gamification) can continue education during the outbreak of any pandemic. During this pandemic, teachers are teaching using e-learning. So most of the teachers use the Zoom app to connect with children. WhatsApp, Microsoft Team, Viber, and Skype are used to teach children.
Through educational video games improved the children’s knowledge and so does the level of reasoning ability. The process of the mind or brain increases and acquires learning opportunities and improves the intelligence and knowledge. The child is not just learning through educational video games; the child gets fun and mental relaxation. The child gets educational games with descriptive and colourful visuals, as well as child-friendly, creative, age-appropriate, and curiously appealing games.
The games should be created in relation to the school syllabus. So the children can understand the facts and subject matter through self-learning. Children can understand the lessons if the games are not very complex. Games created with suitable external factors focusing on the social environment should be simple to understand and enhance the quality of education in addition to a child’s attitudes and skills.
Incorporating the correct spelling methods and basic mathematics are the best areas to create video games. Furthermore, matching identical numbers, arranging letters or number cubes, and solving mathematics problems are the best areas to create educational video games. Gamification is one of the most effective media platform for the primary education sector in Sri Lanka.