School firewalls commonly block gaming sites to minimize distractions. However, some teachers believe unblocked games, when used thoughtfully, can enrich lessons. What do educators really think about incorporating games in the classroom?
To find out, we interviewed 5 teachers about the benefits, risks, best practices, and overall role of using unblocked games to engage students.
Enhanced Engagement and Motivation
The most commonly cited benefit was the ability of games to intrinsically motivate students and enhance engagement with lessons.
As middle school science teacher Pat Howard explained, "Unblocked simulations of concepts bring static curriculum to life. Students get so immersed and eager to keep exploring. Their faces light up when I introduce a relevant game."
High school math teacher Alice Chang shared a similar perspective: "Some students tune out lectures and worksheets. But pair a concept with an interactive game putting it into practice, and they perk right up. Gaming engages them in actually doing the math in a risk-free environment."
The immersive quality of games appears to capture student focus and imagination in ways more passive learning formats struggle to achieve.
Risks of Distraction
However, the teachers identified risks of unblocked games distracting from learning if not managed carefully. As elementary teacher Ryan Martinez stated:
"Games grab attention, but students can lose sight of the bigger picture and objective. Without explicitly framing how the game ties into wider concepts, playtime often turns into just having fun rather than a learning experience."
Others pointed to technical problems arising from unblocked access, like inappropriate ads and malware vulnerabilities on some browser gaming sites. These risks require vigilant oversight.
Best Practices for Classroom Implementation
To maximize benefits while minimizing risks, teachers suggested:
- Carefully selecting games that align to curriculum goals
- Explaining the learning objectives tied to gameplay
- Circulating during gameplay to keep students on task
- Following up with discussions making connections after
- Having students summarize what they learned
- Alternating gaming with other activities
- Limiting total game time
Proper structure and facilitation appears essential to success.
Overall Teacher Sentiment Toward Unblocked Gaming
When asked for their stance on classroom gaming, the teachers all expressed cautious openness with proper oversight. Fourth grade teacher Jenny Yang summarized it best:
"There's a time and place for unblocked games as learning tools. Thoughtfully matched to lessons and standards, they provide great interactive models. But personally facilitating play to keep students focused on objectives is crucial. Unchecked gameplay won't benefit learning."
In general, teachers seem receptive to tapping the motivational power of gaming through controlled, curriculum-aligned implementations that actively guide students.
Key Takeaways
Teacher observations reinforce that unblocked classroom gaming, when carefully targeted and facilitated, offers an engaging way to reinforce learning - but also risks distraction without purposeful integration. Maximizing benefits requires selecting appropriate games, establishing clear objectives, guiding play, and connecting back to core concepts through discussion.
With the right structure, teachers can “power up” lessons by inviting students to actively learn through gaming right from their desks.
Unblocked Classroom Gaming: A Survey of Teacher Perspectives aims to shed light on the growing incorporation of games into educational settings. Platforms like Free-to-Play Unblocked 77 Games offer a variety of options that educators find both engaging and instructive for students. Another valuable resource cited by teachers is the Unblocked Games Collection 66, which provides a broader array of games catering to different subjects and skill levels. The survey reveals that teachers are increasingly open to integrating unblocked games as supplementary teaching tools, recognizing their potential for enhancing student engagement.
