As the word suggests, edutainment is a combination of education and entertainment. It is a unique approach to learning styles, applicable for all grades, even college students. It mainly aims to improve the perspective of students, molding their part and reasons for obtaining education towards a positive direction. It not only builds the character of a student, but also allows them to learn things not with an exam-oriented mindset, but on an application basis. Students find learning interesting, and actively seek it, rather than force themselves to sit down to study only to score better. A school management system can support edutainment in many ways.
Normal classes have the same old tools, a projector, smart class monitors, LMS portals, etc. It is nothing entertaining. Students initially found an LMS portal exciting, but it lost its value as soon as they found out it is challenging to use all of its features. To keep students interested, education needs to be blended with entertainment.
This teaching methodology uses multiple types of teaching focusing on the age group and interests of students. Primarily, entertainment means video and audio use in the classroom. But with digital learning, we observed that even though auditory and visual tools were used, they were not as entertaining because the podcasts or videos were more education-based.
Edutainment sources
Students can find multiple sources of entertainment, mostly under these categories;
- Interschool competitions at a state or national level, or among the students of different branches of the same school.
- Outdoor excursions, some private schools also conduct out-of-state or international excursions. Visit a historical location, or educational site in edutainment.
- Exhibitions and science fair our common to allow students to expand their creativity skills besides entertainment.
- The school fest allows every student to participate in events. This is the perfect time for talented students to showcase their skills on stage. It encourages them to keep practicing their talents.
- Sporty activities within the school grounds, and regular physical education training.
Out of all these activities, only a few ones can be held regularly such as debates, and PE classes, which can be put under interschool competitions and sports. Instead of multiple schools performing, the students of the same classroom participate. Regular sources of entertainment such as frequent outdoor activities, small projects, and innovative assignments with artistic values can be presented to students.
Benefits of edutainment
Freedom
The entertainment approach towards learning prioritizes the mental development of kindergartners and preschool students so that they learn what they want to, rather than forcing them to study only portions of the academic syllabus. Open-ended playtime and entertainment activities initiate physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development in students.
Engaged learning
Teachers can guide students to engage and communicate with each other while participating in entertaining activities. Class assignments could be in the form of group work where not only academic but also teamwork and coordinating skills are tested. Especially your homework session, wins students watch a video and get to write about what they learned from it, they discuss what the possible answers might be and come up with the best possible summary.
Intellectuality
A boring classroom helps students identify their mistakes in learning and memorizing, and get better with the feedback from a teacher. On the contrary, a duty to invent helps students boost their thinking capacity, adapting to a more competitive mindset. For example, a storytelling session where teachers intellectually stimulate students to have a knowledge base by grabbing their attention with a different motive, aiming at educational outcomes.
Positive values
Having the freedom to learn and develop an interest in things is a positive trait. Everything about kids connecting, having the opportunity to select what they learn and how they learn, and diverse learning methodologies including entertainment speaks positively. Gradually, kids are groomed correctly by teachers with positive characteristics in their personalities. Healthy competition in the classroom from playful activities is another example.
Experience-based learning
When students experience new methods of learning, they actively adapt to concepts and ideas. They have an accepting approach towards life and people. This accepting behavior radiates positivity because kids are encouraged to learn things hands-on, and participate in activities rather than only learn with theoretical methods. Adventurous outdoor educational forms are the common type of experiential education. Teachers should supervise students at every instant to avoid accidents while exploring and adapting experiential methodologies
