Virtual gaming has become a popular resource in the classroom, and more games are being developed to connect to a number of different subjects students can access on their smartphones and tablets.This, however, may be a concern of many teachers.

Using a virtual game on a mobile device can “bridge the gap between the screen and the real world,” said an article on KQED.org. Benjamin Stokes, postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley School of Information and co-founder of Games for Change said that “most games are not automatically motivating.”

"One of the things that makes a game engaging is that the choices are meaningful,” he said. The article reflected on "participatory mobile games" in schools, and said “giving students the opportunity to make meaningful choices isn’t at the center of every classroom, especially when it comes to civics.”

“Most civics classes focus on teaching about democracy and governance in its most ideal form, as a static system,” the article said. “The focus is on preparing students for their eventual participation in the system, without giving them a real-life experience of what it means to be civically engaged.”

The article highlights some popular participatory mobile games including Yellow Arrow, Mentira and more.

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Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor