ready ’ in a dynamic world . They are actively looking to bolster traditional education through resources which are focused on developing essential 21st century skill sets like critical thinking , creativity and leadership . They want to increase engagement , reduce stress , improve collaboration through peer learning , and most importantly , make it fun !
This paradigm shift will undoubtedly be impossible without participation of schools and , with the implementation of the new National Education Policy ( NEP ) 2020 , the emphasis on play-based learning and the focus on relevant up skilling has received a shot in the arm .
The world is undergoing rapid changes in the knowledge landscape and it is becoming increasingly critical that children not only learn , but more importantly learn how to learn . Education thus , must move towards less content , and more towards learning about how to think critically , how to innovate , adapt , and absorb new material in novel and changing fields [ 3 ]. This is what NEP has set out to achieve .
However , global advancement and progress has also brought with it some perils . With the advent of technology and the internet we now have access to more information than ever before but we also are constrained by its effects . Increased screen time is a harsh reality of today but only of late are we beginning to understand the dire effects on children . The verdict by science is still not conclusive but ask any parent about their kids ’ affinity to screens and the response should suffice .
Screens isolate kids and , though technology has some great powers , it almost divides families during time that should be spent together constructively . Experts believe that excessive screen time can have a number of effects on children including weight gain , depression and a reduction in social skills [ 4 ]. Most of the parents are now realizing the perils of screen time and are ready to take constructive actions to reduce the screen time of their children .
At Luma World we have spent a considerable time trying to understand what draws kids towards screens and , most importantly , how to replace it with something beneficial . Everything we do is centered around developing knowledge and skills through collaborative play . Our aim is to pull children away from the screens by replicating the gratification and adrenaline rush of digital solutions .
For us , education must be comprehensive , continuous , easily accessible and prepare learners for a dynamic future world . Education must also build character and enable learners to be ethical , rational , compassionate , and caring . Hence along with academic knowledge we combine a multitude of 21st century skills and moral values into all our games .
For example , Galaxy Raiders4 , our bestseller in India , is a game that teaches kids mathematical operations . However , during play kids become space explorers conquering planets and moons by rolling Dice and picking cards . Unlike standard math problems , all answers are on the board and players must create questions using number cards , essentially reverse engineering math equations .
Kids India E-Magazine - March 2022 | Page 15