Different Strokes for Different Folks

2010 ◽  
pp. 255-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Magerko ◽  
Carrie Heeter ◽  
Ben Medler

Digital game-based learning experiences are typically presented to a captive audience that has to play, as opposed to entertainment games that players can select themselves and choose to play. The captive nature of learning games introduces an interesting issue: Not everyone may be familiar with the genre of the game they have to play or be motivated to play it. Students have individual differences that may make a learning game particularly ineffective, uninteresting, or inappropriate for some learners. The authors present work that frames important differences between students in terms of their game literacy, motivation, goal orientation, and mind-set. This understanding leads us to envision game design variations to serve specific combinations of particular individual differences at the intersection of learning and gaming. The authors present their initial work on identifying and automatically accommodating these differences within a single digital game-based learning experience.

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 73-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun-Jo An ◽  
Li Cao

In order to better understand teachers' perspectives on the design and development of digital game-based learning environments, this study examined the characteristics of digital learning games designed by teachers. In addition, this study explored how game design and peer critique activities influenced their perceptions of digital game-based learning environments and learning through game design. Qualitative data were collected from fifty game design documents and participant responses to reflection questions. The analysis of game design documents showed that the majority of the participants designed immersive game-based learning environments where players are required to use higher order thinking and real-world skills as well as academic content to complete missions or solve problems. The results of this study provide important implications for teacher professional development as well as for educational game development.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Wardaszko ◽  
Błażej Podgórski

Background. The effectiveness of digital game-based learning is an important issue. Mobile learning games (MLG) are rapidly growing trends among the digital game-based learning genre. Although many studies have been conducted and mobile games have been shown to have an unquestionable potential as a learning method, their effectiveness has not been fully proven, and the positive impacts and outcomes of mobile learning games with respect to learning have yet to be investigated. Aim. The study aimed at capturing the cognitive learning outcomes and the process of knowledge acquisition. The study has demonstrated both positive and negative cognitive learning effects of using mobile learning game in comparison with the textbook learning process. Methodology. This article presents a comparative study conducted on a group of 160 freshman students majoring in management and finance. The participants of the study, divided into subgroups, were taught using either textbook-based learning or a mobile learning game. Three tests were applied to measure their performance: a pre-test at the beginning of the experiment, and two post-tests, the first administered directly after the learning process and the second 2-3 weeks after the initial learning. Results and recommendations. MLG have been proven to create many positive effect for learning. It is as effective in transferring factual knowledge as textbook learning, when measured directly after the learning process. In longer term, the effects are blurred because the affective effects interfere with the measurement.


Author(s):  
Scott J. Warren ◽  
Mary Jo Dondlinger

This chapter discusses two games that were designed to target learning as well as implications for the design of future games intended for this purpose. It illustrates how the ADDIE model of instructional design can be leveraged to produce digital game spaces as well as the limitations that designers face based on the goals of the project, the chosen technology, and the audience chosen for the digital intervention. The goal of this chapter is to use real-world examples of learning game design processes in order to prepare instructional designers for the complexity of using game and instructional design principles as a means of improving student motivation, learning, and other psychological factors that prepare them for engaging meaningfully in the educational experience.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Ru Shi ◽  
Ju-Ling Shih

How to design useful digital game-based learning is a topic worthy of discussion. Past research focused on specific game genres design, but it is difficult to use when the target game genre differs from the default genres used in the research. This study presents macrodesign concepts that elucidates 11 crucial game-design factors, including game goals, game mechanism, game fantasy, game value, interaction, freedom, narrative, sensation, challenges, sociality, and mystery. We clearly define each factor and analyze the relationships among the 11 factors to construct a game-based learning design model. Two application examples are analyzed to verify the usability of the model and the performance of these factors. It can assist educational game designers in developing interesting games.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Grey ◽  
David Grey ◽  
Neil Gordon ◽  
Jon Purdy

This paper offers an approach to designing game-based learning experiences inspired by the Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics (MDA) model (Hunicke et al., 2004) and the elemental tetrad model (Schell, 2008) for game design. A case for game based learning as an active and social learning experience is presented including arguments from both teachers and game designers concerning the value of games as learning tools. The MDA model is introduced with a classic game- based example and a non-game based observation of human behaviour demonstrating a negative effect of extrinsic motivators (Pink, 2011) and the need to closely align or embed learning outcomes into game mechanics in order to deliver an effective learning experience. The MDA model will then be applied to create a game based learning experience with the goal of teaching some of the aspects of using source code control to groups of Computer Science students. First, clear aims in terms of learning outcomes for the game are set out. Following the learning outcomes, the iterative design process is explained with careful consideration and reflection on the impact of specific design decisions on the potential learning experience. The reasons those decisions have been made and where there may be conflict between mechanics contributing to learning and mechanics for reasons of gameplay are also discussed. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of results from a trial of computer science students and staff, and the perceived effectiveness of the game at delivering specific learning outcomes, and the approach for game design will be assessed.


Author(s):  
Jean-Charles Marty ◽  
Thibault Carron

In this chapter, the authors propose to address two main items contributing to motivation in Game-Based Learning Environments: the flexibility of the system and the immersion of the users in the system. The chapter is split into three sections. The first one deals with the need for adaptation from both the teacher’s and the learners’ point of view. The authors need to collect traces about pedagogical activities in order to propose observation features for updating a user model adapted for learning games. This user model is seen as an explicit collaborative object displayed in the game. The second section concerns the necessity of keeping the users immersed in the game and gives some guidelines for immersion concerning game design, game play and metaphorical support. The last part illustrates these points through a game-based learning environment called “learning adventure”. The generation of a learning session in the environment is described and a real experiment is used as a support for explaining the concepts presented above.


Author(s):  
Richard Van Eck

The idea of digital game-based learning (DGBL) is gaining acceptance among researchers, game designers, educators, parents, and students alike. Building new educational games that meet educational goals without sacrificing what makes games engaging remains largely unrealized, however. If we are to build the next generation of learning games, we must recognize that while digital games might be new, the theory and technologies we need to create DGBL has been evolving in multiple disciplines for the last 30 years. This chapter will describe an approach, based on theories and technologies in education, instructional design, artificial intelligence, and cognitive psychology, that will help us build intelligent learning games (ILGs).


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
Amal Abdullah Alhebshi ◽  
Maha Saeed Halabi

Technology is being used in teaching environments to engage students and teachers effectively in the classroom context and building their interest to explore the versatile phenomenon of learning. Digital game-based learning has become a new learning experience that enhances students’ and teachers’ motivation to achieve competencies. The present research explores the perceptions of teachers and students about digital game-based learning in ESL classrooms. The researcher draws on the relevant literature to demonstrate and support the study's findings. The research is investigated quantitatively by administering a questionnaire to measure the perspectives of ESL teachers and the foundation-year students at King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The quantitative data gathered from students and teachers were analyzed through SPSS software. The findings indicate that a significant number of respondents prefer using technological devices for better outcomes in the teaching and learning process. It also shows that using digital games had positive impact in relation to three main variables; engagement with learning and teaching, acceptance of DGBL and the effects of DGBL to learn the English language. This also helps participants to gain learning experience in their environment at any time and from anywhere.


Author(s):  
Pejman Sajjadi ◽  
Olga De Troyer

Empirical research that draws a framework on how the theory of MI could be incorporated in (learning) games is non-existent. Furthermore, the theory of MI fits well into the concept of individualization, as it distinguishes between individuals in terms of their abilities. In light of this, the chapter reports on the first evidence-based set of mappings between this theory and fundamental constructs of games known as mechanics. These mappings can be utilized by designers in the individualization paradigm of player-centered game design as guidelines on what mechanics to include in their design when targeting an audience with specific MI profiles. Such individualization can potentially positively affect the game experience of players while establishing the proper frame for affecting learning. As such, these mappings, available in form of a recommendation tool, act as guidelines on how to design (learning) games while considering the intelligences of the target audience.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document