The second edition of our Mario Kart tournament at the CJE Verdun is much more than just a fun moment. It’s also a chance to reflect on what video games can teach us about motivation, learning, and most importantly, perseverance in school.

Gaming as a learning tool

Video games, and Mario Kart in particular, are designed to keep the player engaged. They offer progressive challenges, clear cues, goals to reach, and most importantly, the satisfaction of seeing personal progress. These are exactly the kinds of elements that can inspire how we support young people throughout their educational journey.

According to Imagine Learning (2023), using some game-based strategies in learning can:

1. Foster a sense of accomplishment when goals are reached
2. Encourage young people to keep going, even after failure
3. Offer a clear view of progress
4. Highlight repeated effort, skill development, and personal growth

Clear markers, goals, and meaning

In a game like Mario Kart, you always know where you’re at and what to do to move on to the next level. That’s motivating, because effort is visible and recognized. Applying this same logic in a school setting can strengthen students’ motivation by:

– Setting clear and achievable goals
– Celebrating each milestone
– Helping learners understand why they’re learning something

For example, when a student understands why they’re learning a concept (like fractions or history), they’re more likely to stay engaged. Just like in a game, when the mission makes sense, you want to take it on.

A game-inspired approach to education

We’re not suggesting turning schools into arcades. Rather, it’s about using the principles of gamification to make the learning experience more engaging and meaningful:

– Giving learners an active role in their learning
– Creating spaces where they can try, make mistakes, and try again
– Valuing personal growth as much as final results

The tournament as a metaphor for perseverance

Our Mario Kart tournament is a great example of this idea. There are challenges, moments of joy, and sometimes setbacks… but it’s the continued effort and the desire to get better that lead to success. By showcasing this kind of experience, we encourage young people to approach school with a proactive mindset and to see learning not as a chore, but as an adventure to tackle, one step at a time.

 

Article written by Marcela Garcia, Professional Development Counselor at CJE Verdun.

 

References (APA):

– Exploding Topics. (2024). Number of gamers (2024). https://explodingtopics.com/blog/number-of-gamers
– Made in CA. (2024). Video game industry statistics Canada. https://madeinca.ca/video-game-industry-statistics-canada
– On The Record News. (2023). Probabilities, math & Mario Kart: How video games boost learning gains. https://ontherecordnews.ca/probabilities-math-mario-kart-how-video-games-boost-learning-gains
– HuffPost. (2013). Mario Kart, Teaching Children Mindfulness. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mario-kart-teaching-children-mindfulness_b_3072671
– Imagine Learning. (2023). Video games in education. https://www.imaginelearning.com/blog/video-games-in-education