Game-Based Learning in Social Studies Classes in Primary School

Game-based learning enables an optimal learning environment for students, since it is important for them to feel comfortable in the process of learning. More than 20 years ago, authors such as Boocock, Bognar, and others demonstrated positive effects of using games in the classroom in their didactic studies. In 2017, we conducted research about the representation of game-based learning in the fourth and fifth year of social studies classes in Slovenian primary schools. We were interested in the level of representation and type of most often used games. We researched 177 teachers' opinions on the role of games in the classroom and observed 56 hours of social studies lessons. At the end of our research paper we presented the results of a survey conducted among 290 fourth and fifth year students that represents their opinion about games in social studies classes. Results show that teachers rarely use game-based learning in teaching social science. Depending on the type of a game, the most commonly used one is a role-playing game. Most respondents' students like game-based learning in social science and also estimate games are not played often enough in social science.