Lynn Johannson, Advisor, Sustainability and ESG
January 4th, 2024
Lynn Johannson, President of E2 Management Corporation and Catalyst for THE Collaboration
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How Innovative Edutainment Approach Transforms Traditional Education
Guest Post | May 16, 2022
Education is a rapidly evolving sector. A few decades ago, traditional education was the only acceptable model. We had blackboards, wooden desks, bulky textbooks, and detention for naughty students. Fast forward to the 21st century, and most of the symbols of traditional education have now been replaced by technology. Thanks to the infusion of technology into education, we now have Brighterly.com and other online learning platforms. But that’s not where it ends. Technology has equally birthed a new genre of education known as “edutainment.”
But what exactly is edutainment? And how is it transforming traditional education? Let’s take a quick look, shall we?
What Is Edutainment?
As the name implies, edutainment is a combination of education and entertainment. It was first used in 1954 by Walt Disney to describe the new True Life Adventure series. Basically, it means infusing education with entertainment to make learning an enjoyable experience for students.
With the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent disruption to education, students have been finding it harder to learn. However, as we all teach and learn post-pandemic, it’s time to infuse fun and joy into learning to boost students’ motivation and participation.
See: The digital transformation of learning: Social, informal, self-service, and enjoyable
It’s important to note that edutainment doesn’t necessarily have to take digital forms like educational PC games or virtual reality apps. Instead, it could also involve physical exhibitions and fun trips to zoos. As long as the students have fun while learning, the teaching process can undoubtedly be classified as edutainment.
How Edutainment is Transforming Traditional Education
As we mentioned earlier, edutainment has completely changed the narrative and is transforming the concept of traditional education. Here’s how:
Breaking the shackles of geographic limitation
One aspect we rarely explore when discussing traditional education is the geographical limitations of this model. Students have to travel from their homes (regardless of the distance) to learn in traditional classrooms. If you fall ill and can’t make it to class, you’ll have to miss learning for the day. Conventional education is like a ruthless dictator swinging a hammer, dishing out consequences with little to no empathy for students’ limitations.
However, edutainment helps students learn even when they can’t make it to class. For instance, with educational games and YouTube videos, students can still catch up on what they missed for the day.
Helping students understand that education isn’t boring.
A teacher walks in, and all the students groan. We’ve all seen this scenario play out frequently in traditional education. In some cases, we’ve misinterpreted it as a sign of laziness amongst students, and we couldn’t be further from the truth. Students aren’t necessarily lazy; they just find the educational system boring. Having to learn using the same format repeatedly can be super exhausting, which explains why a large percentage of students are apathetic towards learning.
However, edutainment completely changes this narrative by making learning a fun process for students. Since they can learn through various formats such as video games and movies, it becomes easier and more enjoyable to learn. Problem solved!
Improving teacher-student communication
Here’s the thing: in traditional education, it’s hard for students to see teachers as humans capable of mistakes or humor. What they see is an unfeeling robot that forces them to learn and then grades their papers. But we all know that this isn’t true. Teachers are human and could even possess a sense of humor (insert shocked gasp).
Edutainment helps to make teachers seem more human and improve the communication between them and the students. By delivering entertaining lectures, students will be able to ask questions and freely engage with the teacher instead of simply keeping mute. In the same vein, this can also be beneficial for teachers as they’d be able to get honest feedback on modules and their teaching styles.
Boosting information retention
Here’s one thing to note: students forget. Not just their lunch boxes or homework but what they learn at school in most cases. This isn’t any fault of theirs, however. It’s an innate human trait that we all experience. In fact, according to a study by InnerDrive, students tend to forget things quickly within the first 24 hours of learning them. Unfortunately, traditional education doesn’t help much with this problem.
On the other hand, when teachers use entertaining materials and fun-filled activities to educate, students tend to remember more. Since they participating actively and not just sitting passively in class, it would be easier to recall what they’ve learned.
Keeping students excited about learning
Students rarely get excited about learning, thanks to traditional education. It’s basically the same format every day with no variety to spice up the routine. However, edutainment gives students something to look forward to each time they step into class. For instance, let’s assume you teach your students about letter writing using fun videos and then make them write funny letters to each other at the end of the class. The next day, they’ll walk into class with a bounce in their step, excited to see what fun video or class activity you have up your sleeves this time.
See: Lethbridge College heading into metaverse with online campus
What Challenges Does Edutainment Have?
Although edutainment might be the messiah that traditional education wasn’t, it does come with its own set of challenges and risks. For starters, the use of digital devices and tools for education could distract students from learning. As such, teachers and parents have to help them strike a balance between learning and having fun.
In the same vein, developing and purchasing edutainment games or devices is quite expensive, and as such, most students still have to deal with traditional education. In essence, edutainment might be a beautiful rose, but it certainly has its fair share of thorns.
Final Thoughts
The rise of edutainment has massively transformed traditional education and has made learning more enjoyable for students. As parents and teachers, it’s time for us to come together to change the narrative around education and help students navigate their academic challenges through fun activities. The difference will certainly be clear!
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