Educational benefits of digital game-based learning: K-12 teachers' perspectives and attitudes

Abstract

This study aims to examine K-12 teachers’ perspectives and attitudes toward the benefits of adopting and integrating digital game-based learning in education. The study involves 158 teachers of primary education and secondary education who filled in a 37-question questionnaire. Overall, teachers had significantly positive perspectives and attitudes. In contrast to their age and level of education in which they taught, teachers’ educational background, gender, and teaching experience were correlated with their responses. Based on the results, most teachers were familiar with digital games and their use in educational settings and had previous experience in adopting digital game-based learning in their classrooms. The lack of equipment, digital skills, and training emerged as the primary challenges that they face. Concerning its general benefits in education, digital game-based learning emerged as an effective educational approach that can be applied in various subjects and offer interactive and student-centered learning environments. Regarding the benefits it can yield for teachers, digital game-based learning emerged as a useful educational approach that can facilitate and enrich the teaching process as it improves teachers’ communication and digital skills and enables them to create motivational virtual learning environments that would consciously engage and encourage students to actively participate in educational activities and that would promote collaborative learning. In terms of the educational benefits that it can yield for students, digital game-based learning was evaluated as a valuable pedagogical approach that can enhance students’ cognitive and social-emotional development, enhance their digital competencies, improve their learning motivation, engagement, and achievements, and increase their joy, autonomy, critical thinking, creativity, and imagination. Finally, digital game-based learning emerged as an effective educational approach that can be used at all educational levels and in both face-to-face and online learning to meet the new educational requirements, provide benefits for teachers and students, and improve the overall quality of education.