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VIRTUAL EVENT: Children's learning in digital games - the theory and the practice

22 June 2021, 5:00 pm–6:15 pm

Child playing Navigo game. Image: Courtesy of Laura Benton (iRead project)

This webinar hosted by Learnus in collaboration with the iRead Project will debate the use of learning games in the classroom.

This event is free.

Event Information

Open to

All

Availability

Yes

Cost

Free

Organiser

Laura Benton

The use of learning games in schools is increasingly widespread, with research demonstrating their potential to promote more independent learning, foster children’s motivation and benefit learning outcomes. 

In this webinar we introduce empirical work backing each of these claims. We invite teachers who were using the Navigo literacy game in the primary classroom to share their views and experiences. 

Reflecting on teacher experiences with using Navigo we will debate the following key questions around the use of games in education:

  • What is the role of the technology vs the teacher?
  • How do learning games sustain children's motivation and does this apply for all children?
  • In what ways can games foster learning? How do we evidence this?

Navigo is a personalised literacy game designed for primary children funded by Horizon 2020 EU funding. During the past 2 years it has been used by over 300 pupils in a range of primary schools in England. Before using it, teachers were given training and resources, but were free to choose how best to integrate the game within their teaching and everyday practice. 

Links

Image: Courtesy of Laura Benton (iRead project)

About the Speakers

Dr Mina Vasalou

Associate Professor at UCL Knowledge Lab, UCL Institute of Education

Mina has led a number of research projects around the theme of digital technology for personalised learning in children's literacy and learning, and currently coordinates the iRead project.

More about Dr Mina Vasalou

Dr Laura Benton

Research Associate at UCL Knowledge Lab, UCL Institute of Education

Laura has a background in education technology design and is currently a researcher on the iRead project.

Within the project she has been working with primary teachers and pupils to design and evaluate new technologies to support children's reading, including the award-winning Navigo game. 

More about Dr Laura Benton