Bingo in an Educational Context
Getting students excited about learning isn’t always an easy task. Scientists have in fact little notion of how humans learn. Kids know: They play games. Until, that is, they go to school. That’s when the games stop and often, so does the learning. Our approach to this challenge is the usage of (board) games.
Our version of Bingo originated in EFL classes in late 2009 and spread to Kindergartens, learning centers, (pre-)schools, primary/elementary schools and finally events within a very short period of time. One of the reasons for its great success is the fact, that our customizability allows the user to adjust the game time accordingly to the time availability and level of the learners:
A TEFL/TESL tutor with six 4-year-old students in a class may choose a grid of 3x3, with a total amount of 20 words of vocabulary to reach an average playing time of approximately 10-15 minutes.
A kindergarten teacher with a class of 30 students may choose a grid of 4x4, with a total amount of 40 words of vocabulary to have a joyful 30 minute English class.
A primary school with a few hundred students at an anniversary or festivity event may choose a grid of 6x6, with a hundred words of vocabulary to reach a total playing time of 45-60 minutes.
Using Bingo as an educational game is a magnificent tool for:
- Getting/Keeping students interested in the language
- Creating a joyful and exciting classroom environment
- Learning/Practicing the spelling of words
- Introducing vocabulary or reviewing it
The importance of board games is well known to enriching kids lives. Facing the educational challenges of the 21st century we believe that playing games doesn’t have to be limited to homes only, but can be an extraordinarily valuable tool in educating our loved ones.
To learn more about the benefits of (board) games in general, you may read through this well written article on the Importance of Board Games. If you’ve never played the game before, you’ll find easy-to-learn instructions on this website about How to Play Bingo.
