Game-based learning is growing in primary classrooms as educators look for ways to turn screen time into active learning. Italian educational technology startup Sirius Game recently secured fresh capital to expand its interactive platform across schools and corporate training environments. This expansion follows new research on the academic benefits of educational games when combined with hands-on teaching.
What Happened
Sirius Game closed a ‑1.3 million funding round led by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, alongside investors like Trentino Invest and Ultra VC. The company will use the capital to scale its classroom technology and expand internationally. This expansion centers on JOY, a digital learning product designed for primary schools. Developed in partnership with Il Gruppo Editoriale La Scuola and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, JOY combines storytelling, digital exploration, and cooperative missions. Rather than replacing traditional lessons, the platform is a supplement. It lets students take an active role in problem-solving while building digital literacy.
The Bigger Picture
Recent academic studies support the use of these tools. A meta-analysis published in Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai found that digital educational games have a positive effect on student knowledge acquisition. A study in Frontiers in Education also reported that gamified, AI-supported digital environments produce gains, particularly in science subjects. However, these academic benefits are not automatic. The Frontiers study noted that while secondary students saw large learning gains, the effects were lower for primary school students. Younger learners require more structured guidance.
Games are not a quick fix. A case study in the Journal of English Teaching and Research shows that while digital tasks prompt critical thinking, their success depends heavily on guidance from adults. Teachers and parents must step in to ask questions, clarify concepts, and guide student reflection. This aligns with our previous reporting on why award-winning learning tools still need human classrooms. Technology works best when paired with active, real-world instruction.
What This Means for Families
This shift toward structured gaming helps families rethink screen time. When games focus on active problem-solving rather than passive consumption, they become highly collaborative. Research published in PLA Inside Out shows that educational video games are effective spaces for developing social and interpersonal skills.
The best digital programs also lead to offline collaboration. A study in TechTrends found that when primary students designed and playtested strategy games using digital and physical tools, they developed teamwork and design-thinking skills. By combining digital challenges with physical interaction, similar to the paced learning models we have analyzed, schools can ensure that screen time does not lead to isolation.
What You Can Do
- Ask your child's teacher how they use educational games or digital platforms in daily lessons.
- When your child plays educational games at home, ask questions like "Why did you make that choice?" to build critical thinking.
- Look for games that require off-screen actions, such as drawing, building, or discussing strategies with family members.